Pam's Fight Against Cancer
Donation protected
The end of August 2018, I started feeling more tired than usual. The kind of fatigue you get when you think you might be coming down with the flu, when all of your muscles and bones seem to ache, and everything you try to do takes twice as much energy.
I remember nearly fainting one day, as I attempted to walk my dog to the end of my block. I got scared, and just decided from now on, she and I would walk in the back yard only, until I felt better.
I began experiencing sweats at night that would soak the bedclothes and sheets completely. I got daily pounding headaches, and my joints started hurting. I developed raised bumps on my body that were hot to the touch, and would multiply.
After visiting what seemed like an endless amount of doctors, hospital ER's and clinics, multiple ultrasound tests, bloodtests, EKG's, PET scans, CT scans, I was officially diagnosed on September 5, 2018 with stage 4 NK t-cell lymphoma. Per my oncologist, the lymphoma was extremely agressive, and had spread to 90% of my bodies cells. I was admitted to the hospital to begin chemo immediately. Because of the severity of my condition, my chemo plan was: inpatient for 5 days, 24 hours a day via IV drip, Newlasta shot, then 21 days out of hospital. This 5 day process was to be repeated 5 times. After chemo trip #4, I was scanned again and luckily, a lot of the cancer was gone! I was so excited! After chemo trip #5, all that remained was lymphoma on my left arm. I assumed I might be out of the woods. My oncologist referred me to the radiology department, and they began radiation on my arm.
In the meantime , I was referred to Moffit cancer center in Tampa. The doctor there advised I'd need more testing and once I was free of cancer, I'd need to find a donor who was a match, for a bone marrow transplant. This was to avoid the inevitable, which was my cancer returning. The type of cancer I have is VERY rare, very aggressive, and almost always comes back. If I do not get the bone marrow transplant, the cancer would surely return.
I began 30 days of radiation. My hair, and more importantly, my energy, began to VERY slowly come back. I was feeling better than I had in months! The cancer center physician requested a new PET scan in February, to see where if the radiation was working. Fast forward to a day ago, and my oncologist read me the PET scan results. The cancer had returned, and was seemingly just as aggressive as before. She decided to refer me back to the cancer center for further treatment ASAP.
The bad thing is, my insurance, BCBS, has stopped paying for my treatment. After covering my 5th chemo trip, the BCBS payments stopped. According to the doctors at BCBS, it is "no longer medically necessary" after chemo trip #4, so I owe THAT bill. I have called and appealed twice. My appeals were both denied. Hospital trip #6 was also not covered, so there's that bill ($26,000), my bloodwork bill ($1280), and both of my PET scans ($5380). I have paid my deductible and all co-insurance, along with doctors visits and radiation copays. The total on that is over $12,000.
My battle with cancer is not over, and I am not ever giving up, but I have not even begun the cancer center treatments, or payments for those. I will also be out of work for quite a while, as well as not working for a further 100 days for my bone marrow transplant (once, God-willing, my cancer is gone). I am asking for help, for the first time ever, because I am unsure how I will be able to cover all of my expenses.
Thank YOU, in advance, for your help! I understand if you cannot help, and ask for your prayers, likes, and shares. :)
I remember nearly fainting one day, as I attempted to walk my dog to the end of my block. I got scared, and just decided from now on, she and I would walk in the back yard only, until I felt better.
I began experiencing sweats at night that would soak the bedclothes and sheets completely. I got daily pounding headaches, and my joints started hurting. I developed raised bumps on my body that were hot to the touch, and would multiply.
After visiting what seemed like an endless amount of doctors, hospital ER's and clinics, multiple ultrasound tests, bloodtests, EKG's, PET scans, CT scans, I was officially diagnosed on September 5, 2018 with stage 4 NK t-cell lymphoma. Per my oncologist, the lymphoma was extremely agressive, and had spread to 90% of my bodies cells. I was admitted to the hospital to begin chemo immediately. Because of the severity of my condition, my chemo plan was: inpatient for 5 days, 24 hours a day via IV drip, Newlasta shot, then 21 days out of hospital. This 5 day process was to be repeated 5 times. After chemo trip #4, I was scanned again and luckily, a lot of the cancer was gone! I was so excited! After chemo trip #5, all that remained was lymphoma on my left arm. I assumed I might be out of the woods. My oncologist referred me to the radiology department, and they began radiation on my arm.
In the meantime , I was referred to Moffit cancer center in Tampa. The doctor there advised I'd need more testing and once I was free of cancer, I'd need to find a donor who was a match, for a bone marrow transplant. This was to avoid the inevitable, which was my cancer returning. The type of cancer I have is VERY rare, very aggressive, and almost always comes back. If I do not get the bone marrow transplant, the cancer would surely return.
I began 30 days of radiation. My hair, and more importantly, my energy, began to VERY slowly come back. I was feeling better than I had in months! The cancer center physician requested a new PET scan in February, to see where if the radiation was working. Fast forward to a day ago, and my oncologist read me the PET scan results. The cancer had returned, and was seemingly just as aggressive as before. She decided to refer me back to the cancer center for further treatment ASAP.
The bad thing is, my insurance, BCBS, has stopped paying for my treatment. After covering my 5th chemo trip, the BCBS payments stopped. According to the doctors at BCBS, it is "no longer medically necessary" after chemo trip #4, so I owe THAT bill. I have called and appealed twice. My appeals were both denied. Hospital trip #6 was also not covered, so there's that bill ($26,000), my bloodwork bill ($1280), and both of my PET scans ($5380). I have paid my deductible and all co-insurance, along with doctors visits and radiation copays. The total on that is over $12,000.
My battle with cancer is not over, and I am not ever giving up, but I have not even begun the cancer center treatments, or payments for those. I will also be out of work for quite a while, as well as not working for a further 100 days for my bone marrow transplant (once, God-willing, my cancer is gone). I am asking for help, for the first time ever, because I am unsure how I will be able to cover all of my expenses.
Thank YOU, in advance, for your help! I understand if you cannot help, and ask for your prayers, likes, and shares. :)
Organizer
Pamela Haseman
Organizer
Lakeland, FL