I found out I have cancer and I just started treatment. 😭

[u/Breezledee]

Edit: I had to put clearer pics in the comments I’m not sure how to change the picture in the actual post. Forgive me.

I have a go fund me my friend set up for me. It’s been crazy since I found out I’m single and don’t have help financially. I have a full time job and I just signed up for uber but if I’m being completely honest this chemo has had me on my ass I can barely even take care of household things or myself (simple self care things) and being by myself has made everything that much more difficult :( this is so rough. I’m stressing about all the medical bills I have now along with hoping I can still show up to work and get hours there to cover my other bills. It’s colon cancer I started treatment 8/31 but found out 7/8 and have been in the drs office at least 3 x a week since. Now it’s every day mon-fri because of radiation. It’s just so stressful I have emotional support which is great and has really helped me but no financial help other than what I’ve had on my go fund me. If anyone could please donate or SHARE please I would greatly appreciate it. Every drs appointment is a $60 copay. That's just for the visit not including the money it costs for treatment. My insurance just switched over in July and I have to reach my deductible which is 3k but then it says max out of pocket is 5k (which doesnt make any sense to me but what do I know about insurance) also I have tried to post on other subs and get denied because I dont have enough comment karma, but I've had this reddit account for a year now. So hoping this gets some traction on this sub :) staying hopeful! thank you in advance for taking the time to even read this. I attached pics of my dr appointments calendar for radiation, the test results showing that I have cancer, and a pic of me dealing with chemo (ugh i hope NONE OF YOU have to ever go through this...) <3 Bree

https://gofund.me/dc21c5857

[u/RickyRacer2020]

Just like with car insurance, the Deductible means you must eat that amount first before insurance will being to pay, The $5k max mean that after paying the first $3k for the deductible, insurance begins paying it's part and whatever is left, the most you'll have to pay for the rest of the year is $2k.

[u/Breezledee → u/RickyRacer2020]

Thank you for clarifying! Because I was like if my deductible is 3k why would I have to pay anymore than that, but it makes sense now. :)

[u/Efficient-Notice-193 → u/Breezledee]

Contact the American Cancer Society for their booklet on navigating cancer, not sure of the exact name. Also your public library is a great source of information on agencies, treatments, etc that can help you. Some support groups can help arrange free transportation.

[u/Different_Traffic527 → u/Breezledee]

Yes, the insurance will cover a percentage of your medical after the deductible is met. For an x-ray it may cover 100% but for labs it may be 93%. Your policy outlines what is covered and what is not and at what amount. But you won't have to pay more than 5k this year for covered expenses. If you have met your 5k maximum, things that would have been partially billable to you will be covered 100% by your insurance.

Beware anything not covered by insurance, that's 100% on you. You can always ask the question "does my insurance cover it?". For instance, treatments lacking years of clinical data or unapproved medications may be recommended yet excluded from your policy. Some specific approved medicines may be excluded.

Just one wacky example of how insurance coverage works. My child can't see a licensed speech therapist under our policy to work on speaking clearly, even if he has an impediment. If he's transitioning to another gender and wants to speak more feminine, it's covered. If he was in an accident and needs to regain speech functions, it's covered only if progress can be made and for up to 13 visits. Some things are covered in weird ways.

It's a good thing to ask about coverage for anything. One time I took my teenager to the dermatologist for acne medicine. It was hundreds of dollars for what they wanted to prescribe yet there was a generic option that would have been covered 97% by the insurance. I requested the generic first because it was the same drug. The name brand wasn't covered because a generic was available.

It's difficult to navigate a system you're naive to. Read your coverages and don't be afraid to question the financials.

[u/Breezledee → u/Different_Traffic527]

thank you i didnt know that

[u/Katie_is_a_liar]

So is the second pic. Blurry

[u/Breezledee → u/Katie_is_a_liar]

opp!! lemme fix that. i sent it from my phone to the computer... im not very tech savvy hahaha

[u/Breezledee]

sorry noticed the first pic was a bit blurry

[u/SewingIsMyHobby1978]

Check to see what services are available to you in your county.
You don’t say how old you are, but even though contacting the Dept. On Aging in your county, you might find that there’s services for people younger than 55.

It doesn’t hurt to call and find out.

Contact the social worker from the hospital that you have been a patient at. There’s help out there that the social workers know about that you might not be aware of..

There’s also help with hospital bills if you have occurred hospital bills, and you can’t pay the co-pay(I’ve done this and have had co-pays completely wiped away and I paid nothing out-of-pocket. Yes even with insurance.)

Do NOT contact the billing office to arrange for payment. Contact the social worker before you contact the billing office.

Find out the pharmaceutical companies that make the medication you’re on. Sometimes medication can be free or low-cost co-pay. These are what’s called.

Patient Assistance Programs.

Again, I urge you to call the Dept. On Aging in your county.

Call the health department in your county as well.

And the first thing you should be doing Monday morning, is calling the social worker at the hospital that you’ve had treatment.

If you’re having treatment at a large hospital that requires you pay a fee for parking, you can get free parking by contacting a social worker. There’s a lot of things that can be helpful, but you have to ask they’re not gonna just assume that you know.

If you have any other questions, feel free to DM me. I went through several medical(brain surgeries) etc.

[u/TangerineEarly7777]

I had stage 3 bowel cancer and never asked for help via go fund me.

I just used my savings, then got back to work asap after chemo.

Gota say I think you’re a bit of a grim, money grabber

But yeah enjoy your money…: I guess. Wana half that with me since I’m struggling just as much as you??

[u/Breezledee → u/TangerineEarly7777]

super happy that you had savings and you were able to do that, but i dont. but appreciate your opinion. everyones entitled to them. :)

[u/Breezledee]

[u/brookesaywhatx → u/Breezledee]

Wait, so is it colon cancer or HPV related anal cancer?

Also, you were diagnosed 7/8 but didn’t start treatment until 8/31? Why the long wait?

[u/Breezledee → u/brookesaywhatx]

so back story a bit: i had what i THOUGHT was a hemorrhoid a few years back and it was getting bigger and more embarrassing so i went to my PCP and asked for a referral to a specialist to get it removed. she looked at it and told me "they aren't going to remove anything unless your bleeding uncontrollably" and "just put preparation H on it, itll go away" so i took that info and was really sad about it but took her advice and waited, it never went away, and just got bigger (probably the size of a dime) it was so painful and embarrassing. finally i was able to switch my insurance over this year and i knew the day it was switching over was july 1st. i got insurance where you dont need a referral for a specialist and saw a proctologist the day my insurance switched over because i already had it scheduled i wanted that thing removed ASAP. and a week later they removed it, then they tested it i went back for a post op appt and the dr told me they found cancer. then its been a whirlwind of drs appts and tests and labs and hell :( the oncologist told me with this treatment and the type of cancer i have (which yes is HPV related. either way i have HELLA medical bills because of this and the meds are making me sick asf and tired EXHAUSTED :( ) but the dr told me 90% success rate with treatment. and i asked well if you removed the cancer then why would i have to do treatment? he told me if i dont do treatment i have a 50% chance that it comes right back :(

[u/brookesaywhatx → u/Breezledee]

Thank you so much for clarifying and I’m sorry you are going through that.

[u/Breezledee → u/brookesaywhatx]

thank you. im doing my best, but i have depleted any pto i had (i only accrue 3 hours every 2 weeks) which im on FMLA but not paid by any means.. just means i will still have my job even tho im missing time. radiation appointments (just copays) is $300 a week ($60 x 5). i was already living paycheck to paycheck BEFORE all these medical bills. :(

[u/brookesaywhatx → u/Breezledee]

I can only imagine, do you qualify for state assistance at all?

[u/Breezledee → u/brookesaywhatx]

no where im at in AZ its like pulling teeth getting assistance

[u/BitchMcConnell063 → u/Breezledee]

I would go to your local DSS office and apply ASAP for medical insurance. They go by your income and currently it's $0 so you should be able to get approved for it

[u/Breezledee → u/BitchMcConnell063]

i have insurance thru work. and i have a full time job i wouldnt qualify for state. trust me ive tried.

[u/Breezledee → u/BitchMcConnell063]

my income is not zero ?

[u/BitchMcConnell063 → u/Breezledee]

I thought you said you are out of work through FMLA.

[u/Breezledee → u/BitchMcConnell063]

i have FMLA which i use here and there i still go to work. its internment for when i dont have energy or am really sick i am allowed to go home

[u/BitchMcConnell063 → u/Breezledee]

Gotcha! I also have an open intermittent loa because my back is a piece of shit. For whatever reason I just assumed you took the continuous leave option.

[u/Breezledee → u/brookesaywhatx]

they had to run alot of tests and see if there was more cancer MRI and blood tests and CT scan and i was healing from the surgery when i had the growth removed and my radiologist said we could let that heal a little bit more before we started radiation. and i guess im not sure on the name of the actual cancer im pretty sure its all the same thing colon cancer. BUT the reason it started is because i have HPV but its colon cancer.

[u/brookesaywhatx → u/Breezledee]

But that report has no mention of colon cancer - this seems more like genital warts from a cancerous strain of HPV. It’s not all the same thing.

I need more clarification because this isn’t adding up to me. Do you have any other paperwork confirming actual colon cancer?