Fighting Cancer, Not the System

Fighting Cancer Without Going Broke

I planned for this. I thought I had it covered. What I didn’t see coming were the surprise charges no one talks about.

My name is Mark. I’m currently undergoing chemotherapy and hormone therapy for advanced metastatic prostate cancer. It’s in my lymph nodes and bones. From the moment I got my diagnosis, I prepared—mentally, nutritionally, and financially.

We’ve managed to secure coverage for the big-ticket items — $2,500/month for Zytiga, $1,200/month for Eligard, $800 per infusion cycle for Taxotere. A new drug, Xgeva, has been added recently for bone metastasis. We're still waiting to find out the actual monthly cost, but expected expenses are in the $1,200–$1,800 range. Another financial bridge we cross when we know for certain.

What we didn’t see coming were the “administrative fees.”

We walked into the first infusion expecting a $120 doctor visit copay—and got blindsided with nearly $300 in added charges. Just for walking through the door. Infusions alone are every 3 weeks.

And that’s not all:

• Port flushes billed as “separate procedures”

• Xgeva injections will require office visit out of pocket at $120/month

• Eligard injections require office visit out of pocket at $120/month

• Labs and surprise diagnostics

• Specialized nutrition and hydration supplies

• Costs that aren’t denied—just quietly not covered

These hidden fees are soul-crushing.

They hit you when you're most vulnerable—and they add up fast.

I’m not looking for charity. I’ve saved and prepared for most of this.

I just need a small cushion to stay focused on healing instead of spiraling from unexpected costs.

I'm asking for $2,500–$3,000 to fill those gaps:

• Administrative and infusion fees

• Injection visits and port maintenance

• Nutritional support during chemo

• Unexpected charges that land outside insurance reach

If you know me, you know I’ve approached this fight with clarity, honesty, and dark humor. I’ve done everything I can to handle it with grace.

If you can help—thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can’t, please consider sharing this with someone who might.

Every little bit helps. It all adds up and could make a HUGE difference right now.

With gratitude,

—Mark (Salty)