Kidney Cancer returned in my spine

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kpq1918
kpq1918 CSN Member Posts: 9 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

I'm 56 now and had kidney cancer in 2008 and got my right kidney removed. In August 2024, I was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cancer that attached itself to my spine. The cancer was pushing on the bone and my spine was close to fracturing. I had 8 hour surgery to get screws and rods inserted to stabilize my spine.

I was too scared to get my prognosis from the doctor but they're still treating me so that has to be a good sign. In December, a CT Scan showed that all my other tumors were smaller and some shrunk up to 50%. My main tumor on my spine did not shrink, but i had surgery on it and radiation, so the doctor said that there are most likely dead cancer cells that are showing up.

I've been in pain and that doesn't seem to be getting better. The doctors prescribed me morphine and oxy for the pain, but I would have thought that the pain would be getting better, but it's not. I sit down most of the day, and try to work but I think I need to stand up more and walk more.

Anyways, it's been a really bad week for me and I'm starting to face the facts that this is my new life. I'm not able to work as much. I'm a freelance software developer and have a couple of clients right now. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep doing this, but I know my work hasn't been as good as it was before this happened and the bills are piling up. Does anybody know what kind of financial help might be available to me or where I should look? We currently get no financial help and don't know where to start to look.

Comments

  • AliceB1950
    AliceB1950 CSN Member Posts: 251
    #2

    I think people who have any stage 4 cancer are eligible to get fast tracked for social security disability. There should be a social worker through your doctor or hospital you can talk to about that and any other assistance.

  • kpq1918
    kpq1918 CSN Member Posts: 9 Member
    #3

    Thank you AliceB. I might look into it this weekend and mention it to my Oncologist. Unfortunately, I was/am a freelancer Software Developer and when I looked into Medicaide last fall, I found out that you to have full time employment to qualify for some stuff. Even though I worked over 40 hours a week, I didn't think I would qualify for it. I never looked into Social Security disability though.

    I am able to work, but I can't work like I used to. I find myself getting too tired and usually have to stop at 4:00 or 4:30 with frequent breaks in between. I also need to bring home $4000 to $5000 a month to pay the bills. Somehow by the grace of God, we got Home Equity Loan about a month before I got diagnosed with cancer. We've been living mostly by that, but this is running out quickly.

    I'm not sure if I mentioned this in my post, but my insurance rescinded my policy when I got diagnosed and so far we have over $140,000 in bills and there's a bill out there to the hospital for almost $250,000. We can't pay a penny towards all these bills and we've been trying to negotiate, but they aren't coming down by much. We spoke with a bankruptcy lawyer and she said try to work with them, but in the end, don't pay the hospital bills. They've recently passed a law where they forgive alot of medical debt. I read this and I'm not sure I qualify for it.

    I wish I could try to fight the cancer more, but I've been spending the last couple of months fighting the scum at the insurance company (Allstate) and the billing people at the my hospital. After the company dropped my policy, my wife's company let me get on their insurance, but we have to pay 100% of it, so my wife is now mostly working just to pay hers and my insurance.

  • AliceB1950
    AliceB1950 CSN Member Posts: 251
    #4

    I'm so sorry for the financial problems and how evil your insurance has been.

  • Skidmore204
    Skidmore204 CSN Member Posts: 10 Member
    #5

    Hi

    Just joined and see your post. How are things working out ?

  • kpq1918
    kpq1918 CSN Member Posts: 9 Member
    #6
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723459#Comment_1723459

    So far so good. My cancer hasn't grown. My three smaller tumors have all shrunk, but my main tumor on my spine hasn't changed size. The doctor said that there could be alot of dead cancer cells on the image so it might be smaller. As long as it doesn't grow I'm happy. I'm still in some pain, but that's mostly from not exercising enough and getting around walking.

    From an insurance point of view, the insurance cancelled me and I got on my wife's insurance. Her insurance has been paying so going forward we're alright. The problem is that we have ton of bills from August until November 1, that we have to pay. We're on a monthly payment plan for some of it, but on the rest of it, we can't pay it. I don't have the money. I'm waiting to see if the hospital is going to report this to a collection agency.

    I no longer have any work, and I'm desperately looking for work.I'm a software engineer. I'm mostly looking for contracts to perform software for people. I started an LLC but haven't written a website yet.

    How are you doing? Welcome to the club.

  • kpq1918
    kpq1918 CSN Member Posts: 9 Member
    #7

    Forgot to mention that I didn't apply for any government assistance programs. I somehow never qualify for anything so I'm guessing they'd just reject me.

  • Skidmore204
    Skidmore204 CSN Member Posts: 10 Member
    #8

    Wow! That’s wonderful about the smaller ones. I have a tiny one in my renal cavity - not really sure it’s cancer, but I also am being monitored for plasma cancer . I never qualify for anything. But I have Kaiser Insurance and it’s been wonderful for me

  • littlex
    littlex CSN Member Posts: 8 Member
    #9
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723466#Comment_1723466

    Hi good luck I hope your tumors continue to shrink I’m not understanding why you haven’t applied for any government assistance. Seems like you are eligible and one thing is certain if you don’t apply you definitely won’t get the help you need

    Do yourself a favor apply the worst that can happen is you get denied Just don’t deny yourself the opportunity to get help

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 CSN Member Posts: 638 Member
    #10
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/328980/kidney-cancer-returned-in-my-spine

    Hi. Have you tried checking with the hospital or center if they have any benevolence programs?

  • Skidmore204
    Skidmore204 CSN Member Posts: 10 Member
    #11
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721084#Comment_1721084
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723467#Comment_1723467

    update:

    Just saw oncologist this week. It’s RCC and the size and position of it requires removal of the entire kidney - but! I’m not a candidate for surgery yet as I am considered high risk. It’s protruding into the renal sinus cavity and hoping it behaves and not spread anytime soon. I may be able to get some sort of special radiation -but on Active Surveillance until symptoms increase or November when I get a new scan.

  • Skidmore204
    Skidmore204 CSN Member Posts: 10 Member
    #12
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/328980/kidney-cancer-returned-in-my-spine

    Terrible that there isn’t more help for heath care. I am sorry that you are going through this. Try the school system. Not sure how your energy will hold out- you really should be on disability. Call a disability attorney as soon as you can.

  • kpq1918
    kpq1918 CSN Member Posts: 9 Member
    #13
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723842#Comment_1723842

    I'm sorry to hear about your cancer. I hope the doctors find a good treatment for you. The doctors are amazing and I'm sure they'll come up with a good treatment for you. In the meantime, can they put you on Lenvima or Keytruda to help stop the spreading? That's what I'm currently taking.

  • kpq1918
    kpq1918 CSN Member Posts: 9 Member
    #14

    Skidmore, I know I should apply or seek out the hospital for some help, but I have some money saved up for now. A good friend of mine set up a GoFundMe and I got a lot of donations through that and some other private donations. I'm good for about 6 months, financially. I've gotten my resume put together and I updated my Upwork profile and I'm hoping I can get some clients again. An old client of mine called me last week and he wants me to do a small project for him. I have another potential bigger project too but I don't I'll get it. Anyways, it's giving me hope. I've been using Chat GPT to improve on my grammer and to get create a compelling profile.

    If I don't find anything in the next few months, I'll try to start seeking more assistance. I develop desktop and web applications and I write automation software. It's a young person's career, but I'm doing well in it as a 57 year old.

    As far as my health goes, I've been moving around more and alot of my aches and pains have been getting better. I'm also sleeping much better. I'll be getting my next CT Scan in late August or early September.

    If I can get over my financial issues, then my life isn't really that bad. I take a Lenvima pill every day, then every 3 weeks, I have blood work done, talk to my Oncologist and have a Keytruda infusion. I'm hoping that this will keep working and the doctors will soon find a cure for this or a better treatment. I think doctors and scientists will find a cure soon, with the help of AI.

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