Cancer is still expensive. At the end are the updated numbers representing 17 months of this ordeal.
Once again I am grateful for my health insurance. I
am also grateful to The Sanborn Foundation, which supports Arlington, MA
residents diagnosed with cancer regardless of income. We received a
grant to cover any of our cancer-related out of pocket expenses.
Knowing that there are millions of people without amazing health
insurance or a local organization such as the one in my town, we donate
to Dana-Farber directly and via the many Jimmy Fund activities we now
participate in. Consider supporting my participation or registering to participate yourself:
FitFest (here is my fundraising page) -- Saturday 5/6/17
Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk (here is my fundraising page) -- Sunday 9/24/17
Next year I hope to also do the Pan-Mass Challenge (8/5-8/6). With surgeries this year I felt I wouldn't have time to get into good enough shape for the intense 2-day ride. I do hope to resume my bike commuting to work however.
You can also run for the Jimmy Fund in a whole bunch of events. I haven't done one of these yet as I'm not a runner. Maybe one day I will be.
And with all those ways to support folks financing their health care and those looking for cures, here are the numbers for one person's relatively straight-ahead battle:
Chemotherapy 6,645.22
Chemotherapy-related 126,589.98 (Neulasta)
Clinic/Consultation 1,076.00
Emergency Room 1,949.00
Inpatient 6,687.34
Labs/Scans 35,843.00
Medical Supplies 3,787.38
Surgery 16,516.50
TOTAL 199,094.42
And an updated out-of-pocket breakdown:
Clothing/supplies 184.54
Copays- appts 350.00
Copays- scrips 71.47
Food 357.58
Parking 649.00
TOTAL OOP 1,612.59
Wicked-sobering grand total: 200,707.01
