Wow, now that is a loaded subject! I was very fortunate during my stretch with breast cancer that my insurance picked up the majority of the bills and yes, I had co-pays and that got a bit much and driving and parking, etc. I guess I just want to say to those of you out there to talk to your team, including your social worker and financial affairs people to find out what is available out there especially when insurance does not cover the bill. At one point, one of my sons said to me that if it cost $10,000 for whatever medical thing that needed done, that he would opt not to do that. Now keep in mind, he was young and not out in the world yet but how could I tell him that one of my drugs alone was above the$2,000 mark and that was just one of the drugs. That didn't take into mind, the surgeries, supportive testing and follow up as well as radiation and chemotherapy treatment. I was in a clinical trial at the time and one of the drugs I was on was $800 a month. The good news is that it is now considered the gold standard of care for those who have had the same type of cancer and markers so the cost has come down appreciably. Cancer is not cheap by any means and I would hate to think a patient would not seek treatment due to the costs. There are many grants, and fundings, available so pull your team together and get the ball moving and if not you, then your patient advocate be it your spouse, sister, or friend. Now what I am looking at is the financial costs but we all know there is more to pay than just the bills to cancer. We have emotional, social, physical, and more that will empty our personal resources
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AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
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