Kathy's Story
Fighting Cancer . . . Fighting for Care
Kathy thought losing a job she cared about was pretty devastating. But it paled in comparison to the news she got two weeks later: she had cancer. When Kathy discovered a lump in her breast shortly after she lost her job, she knew she needed to get it checked out right away. Unfortunately, she now had neither insurance coverage nor the money to pay for a mammogram.
But this long-time American Cancer Society volunteer knew where to turn for help. Her local Society office was able to help her gain access to a state-run program that provides free mammograms for medically underserved women. The test identified the lump as stage III breast cancer, and Kathy underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. She has since completed her treatment and is doing well physically.
Financially? Well, that’s another matter. Her treatment left her temporarily unable to look for work, and even though her medical care was covered by the state program, she was unable to pay her other bills and had to arrange special payment plans with her creditors.
Still, Kathy knows she’s been lucky. For all too many uninsured people facing cancer, there is nowhere to turn for the lifesaving treatment they need. The 47 million Americans who are uninsured often face a terrible choice: losing everything or losing their lives.
The American Cancer Society believes fighting cancer is tough enough without also having to fight for the care you need. Don’t you?