tHERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING I AM NOT AWARE OF OUT THERE TO GET MY MOTHER THE CARE SHE NEEDS. sHE HAS PROPERTIES THAT HAVEN'T SOLD DUE TO THE FIANANCIAL DECLINE OF OUR NATION AND THE HORRIBLE SLUMP OF REAL ESTATE. SHE WILL BE 65 IN AUGUST AND WILL RECEIVE MEDICARE. SHE WAS DECLINED FOR COVERAGE A FEW YEARS AGO DUE TO BLOCKAGE IN HER HEART-(15 TO 20% )WHICH I BLIEVE WAS NOT LEGAL.THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE HAS CHECKED INTO DRUG REPLACEMENT AND HAVE GIVEN US A COST OF 12,0000.00 TO 20,000.00 FOR EACH TREATMENT, ONCE A WEEK.SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDS! WE MAY ASWELL LIVE IN 3RD WORLD COUNTRY.WE ARE PRAYING...WE NEED ANSWERS, IDEAS, SOLOUTIONS.
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Hello anon, I'm sorry to hear that your mother is going thru this, but am with Diane in noting it was great the pharmaceutical companies to help with medication. Also wanted to suggest a few resources that one of EmpowHer's moderators, Susan discovered earlier this year .... Here's what she recommended to another EmpowHer visitor going through something similar:
"There are many organizations and hospitals who offer free or very inexpensive care for cancer patients who have no insurance.
-My best advice to you is to contact the American Cancer Society immediately. They offer programs to give financial assistance to cancer patients.
www.cancer.org
-Many major hospitals also run these programs - contact the hospitals near you and ask for this department. Even if you had to move to be near a hospital that would provide care for no or low cost - it might be worth it.
-Contact Catholic Charities. You do NOT have to be Catholic, Christian or anything else. You simply have to be a human being. They help with prescription drugs, medical supplies and many other services.
www.catholiccharituesusa.org
-You can also contact Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network. Part of what they do is provide financial assistance to people who need treatment for illness.
www.oprahsangelnetwork.org
-There is another option - consider becoming part of a clinical trial. The National Cancer Institute has much of the information you will need, including forms to fill out. Using your zip code, they can find the trials going on as close to you as possible. You can find all this, including application forms here:
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/basic-search-form-help#1
-Are you part of a church? Do you know that more than 50% of religious organizations and churches either offer financial aid to those who need it for treatment, or can find an organization for you.
-If your annual income is less than $84,800, you can apply for free prescription drugs. An organization called Free Medicine can help you. The application form is right there on the home page:
http://www.freemedicinefoundation.com/
-Consider having a fundraiser. Now is the time to ask your family, friends and coworkers for help. Even in these hard economic times, I'm sure people would be more than willing to contribute $20 or $30 and with a fundraiser, that could really add up. I know several people who held fundraisers (one had cancer, one had a terrible accident and had no insurance) and they helped enormously. If you are in a club, a church, a community organization or a member of any kind of group, they can help you out. I know that I would be thrilled to help someone out for such a worthy cause."
Did you find this information helpful?
June 11, 2009 - 10:45amThis Comment
Amazing! Great info. Thank you so much.
June 12, 2009 - 6:40pmThis Comment
This is very helpful information about how to get your doctor to help with the drug companies.
June 11, 2009 - 8:00amThis Comment
We live in the panhandle of Fla.My mother went for her mammo. on March 23rdand it went from there:
June 11, 2009 - 7:13amI believe she has stage3, ductile carcinoma, invasive , aggressive and malignant, are all terms I have heard. She has two sites. One is not invasive. It has taken 2 surgeries to get clear margins around the sites and she is going to see the surgen today because her breast has started oozing, with some pain. She is suppose to have atleast 12 weeks of weekly chemo. and 30-35 daily treatments of radiation (not the balloon because they do not feel it would serve her well.)Her medicare will kick in in August when she turns 65.We will be traveling over 40 miles one way to the radiation treatments and approximately 40 one way for chemo.My mother chooses not to use a local hospital approximately 20+miles one way.The oncologist's office has gotten the drug companies to pick up the cost on all but one of the drugs as I mentioned.
This Comment
Anon, that's very scary news about your mother's cancer, but it's such wonderful news that your oncologist has gotten so much of the cost picked up by the drug companies.
Which drug is not being picked up? Can you tell us?
June 11, 2009 - 8:49amThis Comment
Hi anon:
Have you checked with your cancer treatment provider for alternatives for funding? I don't know if the people at CTCA might help with ideas...
June 10, 2009 - 1:11pmhttps://www.empowher.com/providers/cancer-treatment-centers-america
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Thank you. as of today the oncologist's office has found alternatives or the pharmacuetical co,'s are providing all but one drug. It looks like with infusion time it will be around $1000.oo a week for each treatment. I will check with the CTCA. Thanks again.
June 10, 2009 - 3:19pmThis Comment
Anon, I am assuming your mother is fighting breast cancer? What stage?
Hang in there with us and come back and give us some more of the information I asked for above. I'd like to see if we can give you some ideas of where to turn for help.
June 10, 2009 - 8:50amThis Comment
Hi, Anon, and welcome to EmpowHer. Let me get some more information from you and see if we can be any help.
I understand the scary, anxious feelings you are going through, but I need some careful detail from you so that I understand the situation better.
What kind of cancer does your mom have?
When was she diagnosed?
What stage cancer does she have?
How many weeks of chemo is she supposed to have?
Has she had any surgery or radiation? Is she supposed to?
Where do you live? (Just city, state is enough)
When you say "drug replacement" what exactly do you mean?
Is it your understanding that once she is on Medicare, this WILL be paid for? Or will not?
What did the doctor say when you told him there's no way you can pay?
Please help me get a better picture of the situation so we can help. I cannot imagine how I would feel if it were me and my mother in this situation, so I want to see if there's something we can do for you.
June 9, 2009 - 8:34amThis Comment