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.

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Update – July 29th: The Road Just Got Longer

Today, during my 5th chemo infusion, I got some frustrating news. We thought we were in the home stretch—turns out, we’re just barely halfway.

My treatment plan has been extended from 18 weeks to 30 weeks. That means more trips, more meds, and more side effects. Alongside the added chemo, I’ll also be receiving extra rounds of Zometa (for bone health) and Neulasta (the day after chemo, to support white blood cell count).

I’ll be honest—I'm tired. The constant back-and-forth drives to Sarasota, often twice a week, are draining—physically, emotionally, and financially. But we’re still in this fight.

Because of the extended treatment and growing costs, we’ve increased the fundraiser goal from $3,000 to $4,500. Every bit helps us keep going. Every share, every dollar, and every kind word makes a difference—for me and for my family.

Thank you for walking this road with us.

We’re not done yet—but we’re still swinging.

With gratitude,

Mark (Salty)

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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, Zometa, 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”

• Zometa injections will require office visit out of pocket at $120 every 4 weeks.

• Eligard injections require office visit out of pocket at $120 every 30 days.

• Labs and surprise diagnostics

• Specialized nutrition, supplement 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 $4,500 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)