Financial Devastation of Caryn’s Cancer
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In December of 2016 I was diagnosed with an aggressive and invasive form of uterine cancer, called papillary serous carcinoma. My oncologist referred to it as the “arm of the devil” with a 55% mortality rate at 5 years!
January 2017 began a medical and financial nightmare. A full hysterectomy was followed by 6 rounds of Taxol and Carboplatin 3 weeks apart, then 5 radiation treatments. A PET scan followed that showed a recurrence on the outside of my bowel. Back into surgery in June 2017 to remove this metastatic mass. By July 2017 I started chemotherapy again with CarboDoxil. Six treatments 4 weeks apart, a CLEAN PET scan, 3 more chemos 6 wks apart, then 3 more at 8 weeks apart. A BAD PET scan, resulting in 35 radiation treatments to destroy the cancer in my abdominal cavity. Now my CarboDoxil treatments will be every six weeks, indefinitely.
Each surgery required at least two weeks of home recovery. Each chemotherapy requires a week off from work to recover from the effects. In addition, there were many hours of work missed for outpatient appointments with oncologist office, scans, radiations. But I continue to work as a psychologist as “full time” as possible.
In 2017 I lost approximately 50% of my income. In 2018 it was about 35% of my income. Yes, I do have health insurance but between premiums, deductibles, out of pocket maximums, copays, and even some things that were not covered by insurance, this along with loss of so much income I began to rapidly accumulate debt and erosion of my lump sum pension.
This year, my Florida Blue premium is $1678/month, with a $3850 deductible and out of pocket max (this was all met by Feb 2018). The light at the end of the tunnel is Medicare and Social Security in October 2019.
So much debt has been accumulated that I have been unable to refinance my home so I’m planning to put it on the market. I have virtually depleted my retirement funds. I am working hard to pay off over $80,000 in debts and get back on better financial footing, but interest rates and ongoing expenses create a constant “money hemorrhage”.
This is why I am putting up this GoFundMe page..to help me recover funds so if I am fortunate to live through this cancer, I can have some quality of life in retirement.
Many of you reading this have been cherished friends, relatives, work colleagues, and patients. It is impossible to express the levels of sadness, humiliation, and “checking my pride at the door” that this page has required.
I will be eternally grateful for any help you can offer ❤️
January 2017 began a medical and financial nightmare. A full hysterectomy was followed by 6 rounds of Taxol and Carboplatin 3 weeks apart, then 5 radiation treatments. A PET scan followed that showed a recurrence on the outside of my bowel. Back into surgery in June 2017 to remove this metastatic mass. By July 2017 I started chemotherapy again with CarboDoxil. Six treatments 4 weeks apart, a CLEAN PET scan, 3 more chemos 6 wks apart, then 3 more at 8 weeks apart. A BAD PET scan, resulting in 35 radiation treatments to destroy the cancer in my abdominal cavity. Now my CarboDoxil treatments will be every six weeks, indefinitely.
Each surgery required at least two weeks of home recovery. Each chemotherapy requires a week off from work to recover from the effects. In addition, there were many hours of work missed for outpatient appointments with oncologist office, scans, radiations. But I continue to work as a psychologist as “full time” as possible.
In 2017 I lost approximately 50% of my income. In 2018 it was about 35% of my income. Yes, I do have health insurance but between premiums, deductibles, out of pocket maximums, copays, and even some things that were not covered by insurance, this along with loss of so much income I began to rapidly accumulate debt and erosion of my lump sum pension.
This year, my Florida Blue premium is $1678/month, with a $3850 deductible and out of pocket max (this was all met by Feb 2018). The light at the end of the tunnel is Medicare and Social Security in October 2019.
So much debt has been accumulated that I have been unable to refinance my home so I’m planning to put it on the market. I have virtually depleted my retirement funds. I am working hard to pay off over $80,000 in debts and get back on better financial footing, but interest rates and ongoing expenses create a constant “money hemorrhage”.
This is why I am putting up this GoFundMe page..to help me recover funds so if I am fortunate to live through this cancer, I can have some quality of life in retirement.
Many of you reading this have been cherished friends, relatives, work colleagues, and patients. It is impossible to express the levels of sadness, humiliation, and “checking my pride at the door” that this page has required.
I will be eternally grateful for any help you can offer ❤️
Organizer
Caryn L Goldberg
Organizer
Boynton Beach, FL
