Expenses dealing with Stage 4 Cancer

Hello,

My name is Robby, and I found out I have stage 4 cancer in my lungs. We found out I had a super rare cancer back in April. It's called a Pleomorphic Epithelioid Sarcoma. It started as a lump in my right forearm, which we originally expected to be a lipoma of some degree. We went to a medical facility that cut it out, and they sent it off for testing because of the way that it looked. About 2 weeks later (May) we received a call from the doctor stating that they had sent biopsy's to about 35 different doctors across the United States for testing because the results were originally unclear. About 2 days after that phone call we get another one from our doctor stating that it was a rare sarcoma cancer that not many people in the world have. He referred us to check in with Emory. The beginning of May, we saw the Sarcoma specialist at Emory Hospital and he walked us through a second surgery. Ran some tests and scheduled the surgery. The end of May, I had another surgery which was a lot more invasive and extensive, where they dug further into my arm and dug out the good tissues in hopes that the cancer wouldn't return or grow back and potentially spread. The first week in July, we return to Emory for a checkup and to check the progress. My doctor explained that the cancer was back, and that our best chance at ensuring we get rid of it for good was to wait until the lumps in my arm grow big enough to where they could physically see it without fail. My last checkup with him resulted in his utter urgency on insisting I go immediately upstairs to the oncologist and get CT scans on my chest and lungs. As a result, we received the news, that I now have stage 4 cancer in my lungs. Originally when they explained this specific cancer, they told us that not only is it a rare cancer, but it is also high grade and highly aggressive, It likes to work its way into the blood and spread usually to the lungs first. I already have had issues with my breathing the majority of my life and this terrifies me more than you can possibly imagine. Due to the various surgeries and doctor visits I have had a hard time keeping up with work and also keeping up with paying bills. Before I found out about it spreading to my lungs I was almost caught up on bills. However, I am supposed to start Chemo tomorrow and I will be hospitalized for an entire week. On top of that, it will last off and on breaking my entire body down for 6 months to a year or longer. Me, now being unable to work is putting everything on my wife who will now have to leave work to make sure the kids are picked up from school and taken everyday. We dont have much help as is, and even when we do there isnt a magic wand to save the situation. We have tried and done everything we could possibly think of to ensure we can make things happen, however currently we are at a loss for what to do. With bills still behind and Christmas right around the corner, this is our last option. Prayers are always appreciated and believe the kindness will not go unnoticed. Please let me know if you have anymore questions, but I just wanted to share what we have already been dealing with so that you could see what we have been dealt. Not to mention we just buried my father in law last week. Things are starting to pile up and we are unsure of what the future holds. All I know is this is a lot harder than I originally had expected and we are at a loss at this time. Thankfulness and God bless, if you have any suggestions they would also be greatly appreciated because at this time we are lost.