The cost of cancer

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pandagypsy
pandagypsy Member Posts: 113
in Ovarian Cancer #1

I have pretty much had it as the medical community is sucking every last cent out of us.  I am on SS disability, my husband was forced to take early retiremenrt during the latest recession (which is supposed to be over...ha-ha) so he has reduced SS benefits and a small pension (which automatically takes $350 monthly for his health insurance...no Medicare for another 6 months). My medicare advantage plan is very good, but there is still the co=payment for specialists, 20% co-payments for chemo, etc.; hospital co-payments for the first 5 days; scan co-payments (currently $150, going up in 2015). My monthly payments to the various doctors and hospitals drain our finances before the month is over............and we are TOO RICH to qualify for any extra help, be it private foundations or governemnt.

I am stage IV ovarian cancer and have just completed (2 months ago) treatment for a reoccurance after 4 1/2 years.  The Dr. wants to do a MRI to see if my neuropathy is due to something besides the chemo......who's paying for this???? Then he says it is time for another catscan.....who is paying for this.......and more so, WHY???? After this last round of chemo, which landed me in the hospital more than once, the serious side effects I am still experiencing, and the fact that I am TREATABLE but not CURABLE at stage 4, I have decided NO MORE CHEMO. After telling the doctor he took on a "side job" to help pay down our medical bills, she suggested my husband look for more jobs so that he can save up for more testing on me. And he cannot afford to see the doctor about his bad knee and shoulder. I told my husband that it is time we think about US, and use what time we have left together in a more positive way.......I am still in too much pain to do a lot.  Doctors solution????  Keep me on scheduled pain medicine. Yeah, that I can afford, medicare pays for as much generic pain meds as they prescribe.

Sorry for the bitterness, but I am tired of no one understanding our money tree has died :(

Comments

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,368 Member
    #2
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    pandagypsy, I can hear your

    pandagypsy, I can hear your frustration and you have every right.  This is a safe place for the questions, venting, everything.  I am sorry it is so difficult for you.

  • pandagypsy
    pandagypsy Member Posts: 113
    #3
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    NoTimeForCancer said:

    pandagypsy, I can hear your

    pandagypsy, I can hear your frustration and you have every right.  This is a safe place for the questions, venting, everything.  I am sorry it is so difficult for you.

    CANCER CO$Ts

    Thanks, it just seems like no one understands the frustration of getting treatment and the ridiculously high costs at times. I find myself putting an actual dollar amount on what MY life is worth..........pretty pathetic. At this time, I don't want to over extend ourselves in order for me to live another week, month, year.  I don't have a "death wish", but I cannot go thru another bankruptcy......that was almost as devastating as the cancer itself Frown

  • kate1313
    kate1313 Member Posts: 25
    #4
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    pandagypsy said:

    CANCER CO$Ts

    Thanks, it just seems like no one understands the frustration of getting treatment and the ridiculously high costs at times. I find myself putting an actual dollar amount on what MY life is worth..........pretty pathetic. At this time, I don't want to over extend ourselves in order for me to live another week, month, year.  I don't have a "death wish", but I cannot go thru another bankruptcy......that was almost as devastating as the cancer itself Frown

    cancer costs

    I totally understand about the horrendous costs of treatment - I've had to take out a second mortgage on my home.  I have very good insurance but my copays are totally ridiculous - hundreds of dollars per chemo treatment, catscans, etc.  I just became eligible for Medicare so I hope that helps with the expenses but they take $100 a month out of my social security benefits.  What kind of help is that?  I am barely scraping by and yet they take out $$ from my main source of income.  I guess all we can do is muddle through as best we can, but  I do understand feeling bitter and helpless in trying to deal with this situation.  Have you considered trying setting up a fundraising site for help with medical expenses?  There's one called YouCaring.com - you might look into that or something similar.  Best wishes, Kathy

  • OvarySchmovery
    OvarySchmovery Member Posts: 2
    #5
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    There's no money in curing

    There's no money in curing cancer or any long term disease for that matter.  Mainstream medicine isn't designed to cure, only, prolong so the medical community can suck every last penny out of their victims.  To those that honestly think their doctors care about curing them, think again and follow the money people.

    Needless to say, instead of fighting fire with fire, try fighting fire with water.

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