It has almost been 4 years since I found out I had with breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy, reconstruction, and 4 rounds of chemo. My last chemotherapy infusion was on December 31, 2009. Unfortunately, the medical bills continue to come in and I’m having a hard time finding financial assistance for breast cancer patients after treatment, so I have been looking for organizations that help cancer patients financially.
Breast Cancer Financial Help After Treatment – Where is the money for cancer patients?
We need financial help for breast cancer patients and other cancer patients
What a lot of people don’t realize is that doctors appointments, medications, and tests do not stop after treatment. First, I started out with check-ups every 3 months. Now, I’m on a 6-month schedule. Because of the chemo, I now have to deal with peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia. Since I am BRCA 1 positive I need additional tests and scans and a hysterectomy is in my near future.
Also not realized are the increases in medical insurance rates. My husband is self-employed and our only option for medical insurance COBRA, which costs $1300/month. Since I am a breast cancer survivor I would not qualify for private insurance, or at least they wouldn’t cover pre-existing conditions. I cannot afford to take that risk.
Right now, I have $1326.59 in medical bills that I owe just for check-ups and scans in the last few months. I’ve been trying to find some financial assistance to help with some of my current bills. I want to know where is the money for cancer patients?
Luckily I was able to find some free stuff for cancer patients. So, I put together this post, discounts for cancer patients and free stuff for cancer patients.
Cherie, the inventor of Heal in Comfort, also gives many of the post-mastectomy shirts away to both local and national breast cancer patients.
Foundations and Organizations that are not helping cancer patients after treatment (currently)
If you too are a breast cancer survivor looking for financial assistance after cancer treatment, I will help save you some time. Here is the list of organizations I have tried already that are not currently helping out breast cancer patients financially after treatment.
Breast Cancer Resource Center, Austin, Texas – only helps patients during treatment.
CancerCare Patient Assistance Foundation – no funds for breast cancer
Texas Wings – only patients currently in treatment
Chronic Disease Fund – full, no new applications
The HealthWell Foundation – no breast cancer funds
Patient Access Network – only cover chemo medication
Patient Services Incorporated – only cover costs of MRI
American Cancer Society – no financial assistance after treatment
Assistance Fund – no funding available
The Care Communities – only for those currently in treatment
Co-pay Relief – only covers medications during treatment
Keep reading...
- 10/25/2018 - My Laparoscopic Prophylactic Oophorectomy because of BRCA1
- 9/25/2018 - 9 Years!
- 10/1/2016 - What it's Like to Be a Breast Cancer Survivor in October
- 9/21/16 - Breast Cancer Survivor 7 Year Cancerversary
- 9/14/2016 - Scanxiety: Tips to Deal with Cancer Anxiety
- 9/23/2015 – My Prophylactic Salpingectomy with Delayed Oophorectomy (PSDO) – Fallopian Tube Removal Option for BRCA Women to Decrease Ovarian Cancer Risk (with video)
- 3/25/2015 – BRCA Positive Breast Cancer Survivor Response to Angelina Jolie’s New York Times Article
- 10/10/2014 – It feels like the bottoms of my feet have been hit with a hammer
- 9/25/2014 – My 5 Year Cancerversary – 5 Year Breast Cancer Survivor
- 5/23/2013 – Breast Implants after Breast Cancer Mastectomy and Reconstruction, Expanders, See Scars YouTube Video
- 9/30/10 – My Cancerversary (1 Year after diagnosis) Video and Giveaway
- 7/1/10 – Breast Cancer Update – 6 Months Later (pic)
- 4/26/10 – Breast Cancer Reconstruction after Double Mastectomy (video)
- 4/7/10 – Breast Cancer Update April 2010 w/ pics
- 2/26/10 – Light at the End of the Tunnel w/ pics
- 2/15/10 – Breast Cancer Update (video) – Done with Chemo, Now What?
- 1/23/10 – Dallas Doctors
- 1/7/10 – Appointment with the Oncologist
- 12/31/09 Last Chemo and Video
- 12/30/09 – Getting Ready for Chemo #4
- 12/27/09 – Still Recovering from Chemo and Video
- 12/10/09 Chemo #3 and Video
- 12/1/09 – Sleep… Finally and Video
- 11/19/09 – Chemo #2 and Video
- 11/17/09 – Wigs and Makeup
- 11/10/09 – Video Update – My Breast Cancer Story – Diagnosis to Chemo
- 10/30/09 – The Beginning of Chemo
- 10/15/09 – Good News After Surgery
- 10/10/09 – Post Surgery
