how has your cancer affected your job, money situation?

Hi everyone! Just wondering how cancer affected your finances?  My husband has stage 4 tonsil cancer....Luckily, he turned 62 this year and we are getting S.S.  He cannot work, our copays have tripled, we are lucky in one way, he a vet, so we got to the VA for treatments...We have a small savings, no pension (from his prior job) and it's plain scary!

Anyone else have a story to tell, I'm very interested.

Thank You,

Tawny

On Dec 20, 2011 10:31 PM tawny111 wrote:

Hi everyone! Just wondering how cancer affected your finances?  My husband has stage 4 tonsil cancer....Luckily, he turned 62 this year and we are getting S.S.  He cannot work, our copays have tripled, we are lucky in one way, he a vet, so we got to the VA for treatments...We have a small savings, no pension (from his prior job) and it's plain scary!

Anyone else have a story to tell, I'm very interested.

Thank You,

Tawny

I have terminal brain cancer.  I am 56 years old. I had surgery, radiation and chemo.  I have a 5-days a month oral chemo program.  I am on permanent disability.  I was an engineer, now I am mostly a moron.  My social security and benefits were quick to commence when it was clear I was not capable of working.  My benefits are 60% of my previous income.  I now have a $1,100 monthly insurance premium with a $6,000 annual deductible through Blue Cross Blue Shield.  I am having a very hard time financially.

Any suggestions or opinions?

Jon Meredith

Hello. I was reading your comment about your cancer problem. I wish there was something I could do for someone like you believe me I really do. I myself have lung cancer.....going on 5 years now. Had it all....surgery,chemo,radiation,pills,and more. I just got done with want they call Cyberknife Radiation. We are hopping it's going to kill the tumor. I wish you much luck. Dennis 

wow dont know what to Say, I have cancer as well God please help these cancer patients in need. Look call Cancer treatment centers of America who are the sponsors of this page. I am a patient there. there SS worker has a list of place that you can request assistance from. If you have not already done this.

I thank God I am employed and able to work. I have not been through nearly as much, like many of you have. Not sure what my future holds. I was diagnoised in 2010 Multiple Myeloma. I went through 3 rounds of chemo and a stem cell Transplant.

God bless you all

Greg

  Hello. I was thinking of going to the V A when I first got cancer but had midicare so I didn't. I now have around $4000.00 in copay to pay off. I was 65 two months and they found cancer in my left lung. A pill one of my cancer Doctors gave me was over the top. My copay was $1740.00 a week. If it were not for some help I found on the net I would not have been able to take the pill. I just got done with want they call Cyberknife Radiation. If your cancer is not gone you my want to look into it. It's been five years and all I do now is take it one day at a time. I wish you the best of luck. Dennis

I should be filing a claim with the VA on my cancer. I found out 3 months ago the water at camp Lejeune has been contaminated from 1953 -1987 maybe to 89. Un real

The VA maintains a web page on the Camp Lejeune situation.  You'll find it at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/index.

You can file an online claim there.  They are reviewing claims on a case-by-case basis.  Congress had a bill going to extend medical care to all of the camp's vets last year, but it stalled. 

Myself, I'm an Army vet sitting in a VA hospital bed right now, being treated for leukemia.  It is very good medical care.  

On Dec 20, 2011 10:31 PM tawny111 wrote:

Hi everyone! Just wondering how cancer affected your finances?  My husband has stage 4 tonsil cancer....Luckily, he turned 62 this year and we are getting S.S.  He cannot work, our copays have tripled, we are lucky in one way, he a vet, so we got to the VA for treatments...We have a small savings, no pension (from his prior job) and it's plain scary!

Anyone else have a story to tell, I'm very interested.

Thank You,

Tawny

I have found this Website to be very helpful with all kinds of Cancer issues and Solutions:

http://liveforeverwithcancer.com/

I have a section on finance in my personal notes that may help.

All My Best

Johnr_1

On Feb 26, 2012 2:10 AM GregMatthews wrote:

I should be filing a claim with the VA on my cancer. I found out 3 months ago the water at camp Lejeune has been contaminated from 1953 -1987 maybe to 89. Un real

Thank you for mentioning this. I'll keep it in mind & pass it on to people who I think can use it.

https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/clwater/

On Feb 26, 2012 2:02 AM GregMatthews wrote:

wow dont know what to Say, I have cancer as well God please help these cancer patients in need. Look call Cancer treatment centers of America who are the sponsors of this page. I am a patient there. there SS worker has a list of place that you can request assistance from. If you have not already done this.

I thank God I am employed and able to work. I have not been through nearly as much, like many of you have. Not sure what my future holds. I was diagnoised in 2010 Multiple Myeloma. I went through 3 rounds of chemo and a stem cell Transplant.

God bless you all

Greg

From what I hear CTA doesn't do charity care & in fact; if you do a forum search; some have been asked to put up large amounts ($25k+) of money.

Some drug manufacturers have programs; look the drug up; go to manufacturers page to see if they have a form or if your Dr has to request it.

We had our own nightmare; our script insurance was maxed out; then my hub had 2 needle biopsies; ultrasound; MRI; CT & PET; radical neck dissection with right tonsil removed & feeding tube- then 10 radiation (out of 33) with 1 chemo; then admitted for 4 days due to thrush & guess what? His benefits were maxed out already. At that point; the 2 needle biopsies were not paid; thankfully the scans were- the rest of treatment; we applied for charity care at his cancer center.

During his treatment; I had to put money into my SUV; brakes; then the front axel went. Next thing we knew; it needed a motor at 100,000 miles. Almost $10,000 later but I couldn't buy another used one for that price. We've had problems with what was a 2 year old house- roof leak; basement.. He recovered; we were starting to catch up when he was forced to switch from his job of almost 30 years & now we struggle to keep our heads even.

Bankruptcy would help us & we've discussed it many times but we do not want to go that route just yet. He's 2 years out of treatment; my fear is it coming back & if we file bankrupcty now; how would we dig out if we needed to with recurrance? He's going to be 54; the last thing we want to do is file.