The financial cost of cancer

I want the message to get out to the people of what I learned during my cancer journey, so that what I went through did not happen in vain, and could possibly save a life.

Breast cancer is not always a lump. My cancer was a flat mass that I never would’ve felt during a self breast exam. So to all the women out there, do not skip going for a mammogram just because you don’t feel a lump. To all men and women, go for cancer screening tests.  I did not feel ill at all when I went for my yearly check up.  I had no symptoms, no clue that there was a problem.  

How could I be walking around with stage III breast cancer and not even know it?

No one wants to talk about the money behind the illness.  My chemotherapy cost $6,000 per treatment.  I went for a year and a half of chemo, sometimes weekly, sometimes every other week. That amount does not include my 33 radiation sessions, nor my double mastectomy and lymphectomy surgery, nor the re-hospitalizations due to complications from treatment.

We have all heard that cancer treatment is expensive, but I think we have to talk about the actual numbers.

Many people think once you’re done with treatment and your hair grows back everything is fine.

It is not. The consequence of surviving my cancer is ongoing medical treatment for the rest of my life. The side effects and damage caused by all the treatment to save my life is too long to list.

So exactly who is Team Up Montana?

The answer comes right off of the website.

St. Patrick Hospital and the University of Montana joined forces to raise awareness for breast cancer survivors with the first Pink Griz football game on October 17, 2009.

That marked the first Team Up Montana event. Since then, the game has become a movement focusing on awareness, prevention, education, treatment resources and, most importantly, hope for survivors of all types of cancers. Each year, fans and players at the game wear pink attire to show support for cancer victims and survivors. The crowd of more than 26,000 honors the perseverance of cancer survivors in attendance with a standing ovation. The fans and survivors may be strangers to one another. But, in that single moment, they share a common feeling: Hope.

Team Up Montana has helped more than 300 patients pay for life-saving cancer treatment, screening exams and educational programs. The need for financial support for Montana’s cancer patients grows each year. And, Team Up Montana is with them every step of the way.

Let us do the numbers again.  I survived cancer. It cost $250,000. I need ongoing treatment for the rest of my life. I am by no means alone, how many hundreds if not thousands of western Montana residents are battling cancer? Multiply my expense times all the other people and the people who are only going to be diagnosed tomorrow.  

In addition to battling cancer and paying for treatment, all the other living expenses remain.  You’re still expected to make your mortgage payment, electric bill, buy food for your family. Even putting gas in the car to go for treatment appointments, can be challenging for some. Nobody can go through this alone, we need your help!  Please everybody, get your pre-cancer testing, and if you can, please support Team Up Montana.