Helping Hands

Finding out that you have cancer is frightening. From the moment you’re told, your whole life changes. Unfortunately people who tend to become depressed may give up the will to live and succumb to the effects of their illness more quickly. It’s important to keep a positive attitude when dealing with cancer. A positive attitude will put years on ones life when you’re not dealing with cancer. What do you think it does for a cancer patient? It adds years and helps defeat the beast.

A person in this position needs the support of friends and loved ones. They need encouragement, help with the outrageous expenses. Cancer is not cheap! We do what we can to help make your friend or family member's life a little easier during this stressful time. We have a team of volunteers that help with fundraisers, clean the house, cook a meal or watch the kids. We  provide rides to doctor's appointments or hospital tests. Whatever we can do to help you or your friend through this we will do.

The American Cancer Society says 68 percent of expenses associated with cancer come from indirect expenses not covered by health insurance, And in the U.S., the lifetime risk of developing cancer is a little less than one in two for men, and a little more than one in three for women. Medical advances have resulted in increased survival rates for cancer, but with these advances come increased health care costs. People often don't realize this until they're touched by cancer, either personally or through a family member or friend.

The next fundraiser you go to I want you to think of what you just read and add these to the list, Television, phone, and parking while at the hospital, and don’t forget a loved one who needs to eat while there with you, Eating the right cancer fighting foods builds up your body so your body will be better at removing toxins from the body. Most people fighting cancer will not eat the right foods because it can be expensive, Gas to go to appointments, pharmacies, special equipment, clothing, or child care. If you’re someone who has or had cancer remember those chemo sweats? Did you not turn on the air because of the increased bill?

Cancer was once assumed to be a death sentence because the disease was often incurable, but a new survey suggests the crisis for many today is paying for available treatments. High cost-sharing, caps on insurance benefits and policy limitations raise treatment costs for people with insurance. "It is a big surprise that 20 percent of people with health insurance can't afford to have the cancer therapy they need to save their lives," said John Seffrin of the American Cancer Society.

The survey, jointly conducted by ACS and the Kaiser Family Foundation, includes 20 profiles of cancer patients and their struggles to find affordable medical coverage.

 Ten-year-old Taylor Wilhite's leukemia means cancer in her bones and blood. The cost of treatment and medicine since last March is now approaching the lifetime limit of $1 million from her father's family health insurance plan.

Fifty-eight-year-old Jamie Drzewicki is in remission from breast cancer after treatment and surgery. But she's unable to pay endless bills left over when her $100,000 insurance policy ran out. She said the stress from that debt could kill her if she let it. "I can't go on with the fear that I'm gonna get cancer again, and have this stress every day, and I have to let it go, and try to pay what I can," she said.

Everything you just read is the reason I am so motivated to help. It's sad that in the United States thier are so many suffering or dieing because of insurance or lack of.  Please take a moment and read about one of our warriors battling cancer. Feel free to email me for ideas or maybe you know someone who needs help?