My Cancer Forced Me Into Bankruptcy
I am a psych RN with several counseling degrees. In 2016 at a yearly check-up, a lump was found. I was sent to a local hospital, for 2 1/2 hours they did a sonogram, they started telling me about needle biopsies and what to expect as I was being sent to MD Anderson (MDA). MDA did ZERO biopsies, even though I asked, as they did exactly what the first hospital had done. (I was also fighting a nosocomial CDIFF, from when my Mom was hospitalized and had 16 oral Tx and 2 fecal transplants). MDA assured no cancer and was told to continue my hormone therapy for menopause S&S.
My treatment
When I returned for follow up on 6/1/17, I was there for 2 weeks, supposedly had stage 4 de novo cancer. I have the most common cancer, they missed it and I fed it hormones for months. I went to Texas Oncology in my hometown (McAllen, TX) and was started on Ibrance and Letrozole. I failed it in August 2019. I am now on Xeloda. I have a daughter still in college.
Bankruptcy
In 2 1/2 years, I have gone through my savings, used all my 401K, IRAs, sold belongings and family and friends have helped with copays. I also have a useless cancer policy. I am now being forced into bankruptcy, yet, I did everything correctly. I have spent my life taking care of others, and this is the big reward? 2/3-3/4 of families that have a cancer diagnosis in a family end up bankrupt. I never knew this, until it happened to me.
Were you forced into bankruptcy or had to deal with significant financial stress because of your cancer diagnosis? Share your experiences in our financial discussion thread.
This is my story.
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