Fight Like a Girl - F*ck Cancer!
Donation protected
As you all know, I was diagnosed with bilateral triple negative breast cancer in July of 2017. I have fought through months of IV chemo infusions that left me out of work for 6 months, hospitalizations, blood transfusions, and a myriad of debilitating side effects. I have had multiple surgeries resulting in a bilateral mastectomy, and recently completed 5 weeks of radiation therapy. I still have another 6 months of oral chemo meds I am about to begin, and reconstruction surgeries later this year. With the thousands and thousands I have been paying out of pocket, I'm humbly requesting financial help moving forward.
The oral chemo meds are expensive ($5000 for 2 weeks worth of pills for a total of 8 cycles), but it's something I need because of the aggressive nature of the cancer I have. Luckily, insurance helps a lot. We're doing everything we can to reduce my recurrence rate. TNBC typically has a lower 5-year survival rate, and it's known to come back with a vengence. Especially since I had lymph node involvement, we aren't playing around when it comes to fighting this monster with everything we've got. I need every single cancer cell to be GONE.
UPDATE 4/24: Insurance is paying for my chemo meds! No co-pay!
I am also fighting my insurance company on treatment for hyperbaric chamber therapy I had post-surgery to save my tissue from becoming necrotic and sloughing off. Apparently, it was considered "investigational" and "not enough evidence in scientific literature to show this test is safe and effective when used to treat acute surgical wounds." What a load of BS, right?! My board-certified and specialized surgeon prescribed it, and I sought treatment at a medical facility that specializes in hyperbaric therapy...the doctor is a board certified specialist in the field! So, we have one last appeal and we're fighting like hell...but I don't know how well it'll turn out. Fingers crossed.
UPDATE 4/23: My appeal was denied.
Total out of pockets paid so far (2018 alone):
$4000 for radiation therapy
$319 for 2 weeks worth of chemo meds
$372 for patient responsibility fees for anesthesia from Jan. 1 surgery
Out-of-pocket total since diagnosis:
$10,000
Due:
$17,000 for post-surgery hyperbaric oxygen therapy my insurance company has repeatedly denied
UPDATE 2/13/2019: HyOx treatment bills have been waived.
Due: $3,400 for the rest of out-of-pocket expenses for 2019.
The oral chemo meds are expensive ($5000 for 2 weeks worth of pills for a total of 8 cycles), but it's something I need because of the aggressive nature of the cancer I have. Luckily, insurance helps a lot. We're doing everything we can to reduce my recurrence rate. TNBC typically has a lower 5-year survival rate, and it's known to come back with a vengence. Especially since I had lymph node involvement, we aren't playing around when it comes to fighting this monster with everything we've got. I need every single cancer cell to be GONE.
UPDATE 4/24: Insurance is paying for my chemo meds! No co-pay!
I am also fighting my insurance company on treatment for hyperbaric chamber therapy I had post-surgery to save my tissue from becoming necrotic and sloughing off. Apparently, it was considered "investigational" and "not enough evidence in scientific literature to show this test is safe and effective when used to treat acute surgical wounds." What a load of BS, right?! My board-certified and specialized surgeon prescribed it, and I sought treatment at a medical facility that specializes in hyperbaric therapy...the doctor is a board certified specialist in the field! So, we have one last appeal and we're fighting like hell...but I don't know how well it'll turn out. Fingers crossed.
UPDATE 4/23: My appeal was denied.
Total out of pockets paid so far (2018 alone):
$4000 for radiation therapy
$319 for 2 weeks worth of chemo meds
$372 for patient responsibility fees for anesthesia from Jan. 1 surgery
Out-of-pocket total since diagnosis:
$10,000
Due:
$17,000 for post-surgery hyperbaric oxygen therapy my insurance company has repeatedly denied
UPDATE 2/13/2019: HyOx treatment bills have been waived.
Due: $3,400 for the rest of out-of-pocket expenses for 2019.
Organizer
Beth Carver
Organizer
Dacula, GA
