My mom most likely has cancer. She needs treatment, but cant afford it. What can we do?

Question

Because of her freelancing work nature, my mom is ineligible for state medical benefits (NY), because she earns too much money, yet she cannot afford to pay her own health insurance. She needs treatment, chemotherapy most likely. I know a hospital cant deny her service at the emergency center, but I don't know if she can do that for her chemo treatments. She needs some sort of ongoing therapy and monitoring. What can we do? I feel like were trapped, too rich to get stateside help and too poor to pay on our own. Please, any advice would be helpful. Thank you all.

Answer 1

FIrst BREATHE! Remember she is the patient not you. You said, "most likely" so you aren't really sure and won't be until a biopsy has been done. The waiting game is the hardest! Please don't loose hope! There are several options here:

1)Please contact The American Cancer Society for resources, especially those that are available in your area.
2)Know your community resources. In urban areas such as where I work as a RN, a cancer center is available for the working poor and those without insurance.
3) Seek out internet resources such as livestrong and a site by Scott Hamilton.
4) Please contact a social worker at your local hospital or the nearest teaching hospital.
5) Does she have an oncologist? My oncologist's office has a financial aid office in which payments can be arranged.
6) Please avoid any and all natural cures as these can sometimes interfere with the healing process and or medications unless approved by a physician. Medical quackery is a very prominent theme in cancer treatments-think Laetrile! Legitimate treatments have data to back up their claims as well as aproval by leading cancer centers such as MD Anderson and the FDA.
7) The Doctors involved with your mother's case will analyze the data obtained from her biopsy and further tests, such as CT scans results and decide what the best course of treatment will be. Remember it is her decision as what type of treatments she wants and not anyone else's to make. Although it may seem as though the doctors are taking their time with tests and treatments. They are the experts and know that cancer doesn't appear overnight.
8) True, some cancers are more fatal than others but please don't let words such as "metasize" be death sentence when it doesn't have to be one. Simply put, metasize can be a form of staging in terms of cancer. Some, not all, cancers with "mets" are indeed curable!
9) Remember, your mother is the adult and parent. She has life experiences that you don't. She will be fine. (I know this. I , myself, am the parent of a 21 year old), Although this is a very difficult time for everyone involved, good things can happen. Positive things such as improved relationships and finding a persons inner strength will occur. No one is ever the same after a diagnosis of cancer.
10) Participate in events such as "Relay for Life" if you want to learn about cancer and its effects on individuals, families and their friends. I never knew there was such a support system as big as "Relay for Life." It really is an empowering experience!
11) Knowledge is POWER! Be sure and research your mom's type of cancer should early screening be necessary for you. Some cancers seem to be heritary such as breast cancer.

Answer 2

I'm not sure why your mom isn't doing this, but she needs to get on the phone and start calling places to see if any will take a postdated check, or partial payments, etc. Meanwhile, she needs to reminded that a broken bone is incredibly painful. If she doesn't find something by the end of the day, she needs to surrender the poor puppy to a rescue org that will get it the treatment it needs. She never should have gotten a puppy if she can't afford one, and a broken foot is hardly the most expensive thing that can happen - it's just a vet visit, xray, wrapping it and maybe pain meds. Please don't let this innocent puppy suffer because your mom made an impulse purchase. It makes me sick to think he's in pain.

Answer 3

start a fundraiser. If your in school, you could have you and your friends just put donation cans around all the classrooms and people will donate change and more after they break a dollar. I did this with a friend fo mine in a few years ago for September 11th, and we raised a lot of money, in the thousands. Other schools decided to help out and they started doing the same things. I hope this helps, and bless you and your family. I hope everyhting turns out all right.

Answer 4

i would call cancer treatment centers of america and see if they could help you out.if not i would go to my pastor of my church and ask of course for prayer but also see if they could have a bake sale or a benefit dinner or auction of some type to help with these expenses.you could set up a special account at your local bank that people or organizations could donate to that is for medical bills only.in our local area people will often set up coffee cans or large jars asking for donations and people drop in money to help out at your local gas stations,restaraunts or grocery or convenience stores.you are in my prayers.GOD bless.

Answer 5

I suggest you get her a copy of the book "The Breuss Cancer Cure". Its available from Amazon.com for about $20 I think.
Breuss talks about natural cures for Cancer and many other illnesses. He has over 45000 successful case histories to prove it works. It may be worth a try. Good luck

Answer 6

Sometimes hospitals offer payment plans, and sometimes they offer a service where they'll lower your bill by a percentage (mostly half) if you don't have insurance. talk to the financial office to figure out your options.

Answer 7

I think she can go to clinical trial..
all this cancer stuff /resources is all new to me.. I have been researching the past few weeks since we just found out my brother in law has brain cancer.
but you can try www.cancer.org they have a lot of resources.
you can also try www.livestrong.org
good luck to you..

Answer 8

im very sorry about your mother. um, how about contacting friends, neighbors, and realitives? you will be amazed at how much money you will get for your mom.or you can get a job or start a lemonade stand? do whatever floats your boat. i hope the best for your mom.

Answer 9

try naturalcures.com