Beth Booker's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Beth’s Survival Story:
Beth, a cancer survivor for 20 years is the epitome of strength and heroism. She has a tenacious grip on life regardless of the obstacles she has faced during this ongoing fight against stage IV Head and Neck
Cancer.
Where would you know Beth from? She’s a 20 year employee of Morrison Healthcare at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN where she works as a Registered Dietitian. She is a tireless advocate of services at Cancer Support Community in Knoxville where she teaches the monthly Nutrition Ammunition program. As a resident of Old North Knoxville she serves on their BOD and has lead community environmental clean‐ups at First Creek Greenway for nearly 20 years. Beth is wife to David and mother to 16 year old Lauren.
Beth has maintained full‐time employment despite the side effects from years of chemotherapy and radiation. Beth’s husband is disabled, leaving Beth no choice but to continue working as treatment allows. For the past 6 years Beth has been in near constant chemotherapy and the current treatment has forced her to take a leave of absence from work.
The Current Challenge:
After multiple chemotherapies and radiation treatments, Beth would have never imagined she would still be fighting this cancer. All the cancer is stable, tiny nodules, except one tumor on her jaw line. After
consulting with surgeons, radiation oncology, heme‐oncology, and proton radiation treatment centers, Beth chose treatment with proton therapy. Proton treatment would be less damaging to her neck and
jawline (already damaged by receiving twice her lifetime maximum of traditional radiation.) Proton treatment would allow Beth to remain at work where she would have the benefits of continuing to help
patients while having income to help her family. Proton is also the treatment recommended by both radiation and heme‐oncology teams.
Not only is she fighting for her life, now Beth is fighting with her insurance company. Despite information from oncology, radiation oncology, and more; Beth’s insurance company has denied coverage of proton therapy, insisting that she receive the less costly traditional radiation. A traditional radiation center declines to provide this treatment as continued radiation in her neck/spine are could result in quadriplegia or damage to her jaw requiring a titanium jaw replacement.
Due to the ongoing appeals timeframe and growth of the single tumor, Beth has been forced to restart Carboplatin/Taxotere chemotherapy and take off work. Beth and her husband are now preparing an appeal packet for the State of Tennessee Department of Insurance. This is a final attempt to get some portion of proton treatment covered by insurance. The cost of proton treatment is $70,000 ‐ $100,000
without insurance. Even with insurance coverage, Beth’s share of the cost of proton treatment would likely be over $20,000 and could be far higher.
Beth is optimistic about the future despite these financial barriers that are preventing her from receiving the least debilitating, highly effective proton treatment recommended for her cancer.
How You Can Help:
By making a contribution to Beth’s medical fund, you are helping Beth to continue to survive this battle with cancer. With enough donations, it is very possible for us to raise 100% support. Every donation is
helpful. After so many years of fighting, this will help relieve the financial burden from Beth and allow her to focus on healing and her family.
Beth, a cancer survivor for 20 years is the epitome of strength and heroism. She has a tenacious grip on life regardless of the obstacles she has faced during this ongoing fight against stage IV Head and Neck
Cancer.
Where would you know Beth from? She’s a 20 year employee of Morrison Healthcare at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN where she works as a Registered Dietitian. She is a tireless advocate of services at Cancer Support Community in Knoxville where she teaches the monthly Nutrition Ammunition program. As a resident of Old North Knoxville she serves on their BOD and has lead community environmental clean‐ups at First Creek Greenway for nearly 20 years. Beth is wife to David and mother to 16 year old Lauren.
Beth has maintained full‐time employment despite the side effects from years of chemotherapy and radiation. Beth’s husband is disabled, leaving Beth no choice but to continue working as treatment allows. For the past 6 years Beth has been in near constant chemotherapy and the current treatment has forced her to take a leave of absence from work.
The Current Challenge:
After multiple chemotherapies and radiation treatments, Beth would have never imagined she would still be fighting this cancer. All the cancer is stable, tiny nodules, except one tumor on her jaw line. After
consulting with surgeons, radiation oncology, heme‐oncology, and proton radiation treatment centers, Beth chose treatment with proton therapy. Proton treatment would be less damaging to her neck and
jawline (already damaged by receiving twice her lifetime maximum of traditional radiation.) Proton treatment would allow Beth to remain at work where she would have the benefits of continuing to help
patients while having income to help her family. Proton is also the treatment recommended by both radiation and heme‐oncology teams.
Not only is she fighting for her life, now Beth is fighting with her insurance company. Despite information from oncology, radiation oncology, and more; Beth’s insurance company has denied coverage of proton therapy, insisting that she receive the less costly traditional radiation. A traditional radiation center declines to provide this treatment as continued radiation in her neck/spine are could result in quadriplegia or damage to her jaw requiring a titanium jaw replacement.
Due to the ongoing appeals timeframe and growth of the single tumor, Beth has been forced to restart Carboplatin/Taxotere chemotherapy and take off work. Beth and her husband are now preparing an appeal packet for the State of Tennessee Department of Insurance. This is a final attempt to get some portion of proton treatment covered by insurance. The cost of proton treatment is $70,000 ‐ $100,000
without insurance. Even with insurance coverage, Beth’s share of the cost of proton treatment would likely be over $20,000 and could be far higher.
Beth is optimistic about the future despite these financial barriers that are preventing her from receiving the least debilitating, highly effective proton treatment recommended for her cancer.
How You Can Help:
By making a contribution to Beth’s medical fund, you are helping Beth to continue to survive this battle with cancer. With enough donations, it is very possible for us to raise 100% support. Every donation is
helpful. After so many years of fighting, this will help relieve the financial burden from Beth and allow her to focus on healing and her family.
Fundraising team: Kristen Clay (3)
Autumn Kelly
Organizer
Knoxville, TN
Beth Booker
Beneficiary
Kristen Clay
Team member
