Costs of Treating Cancer
By: Robin Thibault, KARK 4 NEWS
Updated: February 26, 2008
It's bad enough to find out you have cancer -- even worse to realize getting well could ruin you financially.
And, more and more patients find themselves swamped with bills they can't pay -- even with insurance.
A new study looked at more than 400 breast cancer patients, and found even after sick pay and disability, patients lose on average, more than a quarter of their income in the first year after diagnosis...mainly because they're too sick to work.
"Usually women have breast surgery, some of them will get radiotherapy that lasts on average 5 weeks. And some of them will have chemotherapy."
Another study found 100-thousand families a year declare bankruptcy, because of the costs of cancer.
And, unfortunately, besides a few state and local programs, there isn't much financial help.
