Sue has cancer....again
Donation protected
My name is Sue. Six years ago in September, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After nine months of chemo and surgeries I was back on the road to recovery and survival. Finacially, we were a mess as I lost my job and paid the hefty price for COBRA to keep my insurance. With monthly bills, medical bills and insurance payments, my survival literally took every penny my husband and I had in reserve for our future.
But, I had a future. I survived. And we regrouped.
I made some changes in my life. For five years I worked a weekend day so I could volunteer on Tuesdays with the American Cancer Society helping women select free wigs while on cancer treatments. I left my job in senior housing to do work that made me feel good about what I accomplished every day. I took a position with a home health agency caring for seniors in their homes. I was happy, healthy and felt I was making a significant difference in people's lives.
Then, in April of this year, I felt the lump under my arm. In the course of six weeks I underwent two ultrasounds, a biopsy (positive for recurrence), x-rays, an MRI, a CT scan, two PET scans and a heart echo. (I have spots on my liver and lung which were not identifiable. The tumor board has decided the spots are benign.)
On June 24, I began nine weekly treatments of chemo with herceptin every third treatment to shrink the tumor before surgery.
I have continued to work and hope to continue through my last three treatments. However, the side effects of chemo are beginning to catch up with me and I don't know how much longer I can safely care for my patients.
Neither my husbands or my job offer health insurance. However, through the Exchange, we have some coverage. I had been uninsurable due to my previous cancer diagnosis. However, this is not like insurance used to be. The deductable is high and the coinsurance is high (25%). To give you an idea of the costs involved, one chemo treatment is $7K. One Herceptin treatment is $35K!!!!!! Of course, no one would ever pay that cost in full but ...
Now, we need help. It is humbling and humiliating to ask family, friends and yes, even strangers for finanacial help. We will be forever grateful for anything you can give.
But, I had a future. I survived. And we regrouped.
I made some changes in my life. For five years I worked a weekend day so I could volunteer on Tuesdays with the American Cancer Society helping women select free wigs while on cancer treatments. I left my job in senior housing to do work that made me feel good about what I accomplished every day. I took a position with a home health agency caring for seniors in their homes. I was happy, healthy and felt I was making a significant difference in people's lives.
Then, in April of this year, I felt the lump under my arm. In the course of six weeks I underwent two ultrasounds, a biopsy (positive for recurrence), x-rays, an MRI, a CT scan, two PET scans and a heart echo. (I have spots on my liver and lung which were not identifiable. The tumor board has decided the spots are benign.)
On June 24, I began nine weekly treatments of chemo with herceptin every third treatment to shrink the tumor before surgery.
I have continued to work and hope to continue through my last three treatments. However, the side effects of chemo are beginning to catch up with me and I don't know how much longer I can safely care for my patients.
Neither my husbands or my job offer health insurance. However, through the Exchange, we have some coverage. I had been uninsurable due to my previous cancer diagnosis. However, this is not like insurance used to be. The deductable is high and the coinsurance is high (25%). To give you an idea of the costs involved, one chemo treatment is $7K. One Herceptin treatment is $35K!!!!!! Of course, no one would ever pay that cost in full but ...
Now, we need help. It is humbling and humiliating to ask family, friends and yes, even strangers for finanacial help. We will be forever grateful for anything you can give.
Organizer
Susan Flickinger
Organizer
Zuni, CO
