Leah has stupid dumb cancer (bills)

I already posted about this publicly, so the diagnosis might not be a surprise to you.

If it is, uh... Surprise?

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First, the background info as of the end of April:

I have cervical cancer.

I found out a bit over a month ago, they found it at my yearly I-was-born-with-a-vag appointment. After abnormal results, they did a little biopsy to confirm and yup, it's dumb and stupid and dumb. But I have NO symptoms (unless my consistent fatigue was from that but I also blame long COVID and you know, the world), it's definitely very early and there's barely even a chance it's spread. Like no chance it's outside of... the factory, I guess we'll call it.

After a month of back and forth, no communications, and waiting, I just had an oncologist appointment this past Monday, and I really like this guy. That’s the thing with healthcare - Delightful individuals, but Jesus. What a nightmare of a system. The current plan of action is I'm going to have what we're unofficially calling the "BIG biopsy" which will give us more answers on where it’s gone and how angry it is. Date TBD, but within the next few weeks.

After I heal up from the BB (BIG biopsy) which will take about 6-8 weeks (I can go back to work best case in 2-4 weeks but very doubtful), we're doing a hysterectomy. I should probably be keeping my ovaries (pending the results of BB) which is super great because menopause in my 30s sounds bad. Lol. I'm honestly glad for the hysterectomy, because since I can't have bio kids anyway, those parts are really just useless and cancer risks. It's like tonsils. Or your gallbladder or appendix.

ANYWAY. After healing from THAT, and pending BB results, we will take any next steps which would be radiation and chemo in that order. We don't think I'll need it, I hope I won't, chances are good I can avoid, but prepare for the worst and hope for the best, huh?

That hysto healing will take quite a while too, a bit more than the BB, but that's okay. I'm getting FMLA (if my company would stop denying it FFS) so I don't get fired and I'm trying to paint commissions a ton and make myself useful so I can keep up with bills. The medical collections have already started though so this is gonna be tough.

I've told everyone one on one that I can, but I really wanted to make this public because I know I've been especially absentee and not a great friend for a minute, even when I have had time and resources but I've been... preoccupied. And I hope now that makes a little more sense and you forgive me if I've not been there when you needed me.

That's really all I have for right now. I'll keep you posted... honestly, it feels nice to get this out there so I can post if I need something or talk about the cool medical stuff I learn or bitch about American making my life incredibly difficult. To the surprise of nobody.

I have a good support system and I'm young and otherwise healthy. I'm annoyed and frustrated, but I'm not afraid.

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Now for the present day!

The communication has been rough still, but as of yesterday 5-10 I spoke to the surgery scheduler and it looks like now we're moving with some quickness.

Big Biopsy is scheduled for next Friday 5-19.

Which means I have a WEEK to get ready to have hopefully just 2 months off of work, get my work paperwork in order so I don't get canned, and be able to pay bills plus pay the copays and everything for the insane medical bills I'm about to have.

I'll be working my second jobs (custom Warhammer painting and content creation) as much as I can so I won't be completely up shit creek, but the number on this GFM is like worst case scenario - two months of living expenses, plus my out of pocket yearly maximum for my health insurance. Plus padding the GFM fees and that sort of thing.

Look, I hate asking for help to this level. Here and there, content creation support, sure. But this is an extent I never thought I'd be in. And big picture, I hate that this is even a thing. I can't imagine how much worse this could be if I didn't have health insurance or was otherwise unhealthy, or if I had no support system.

But here I am, all the same.

So thanks in advance. I hope and pray you're NEVER in a position like this. But you know what? If you are, I'll support you as much as I can. And we're all gonna be okay.

Love,

Leah

(and Miko)