Basic Living Expenses

[Guest]

My mother was diagnosed 5/27 with NSCLC Stage IV. The prognosis was 2 months to live.. She is 46 yrs old and has stopped working. She has no savings, or assets of any type. My father is receiving SSD benefits, which is helpful. She still has her Ins. from work (Thank God-but doesn't cover pain meds) and my uncle will be paying for her Cobra.. We're hoping to get treatment despite the pessimism of her oncologist. My sister and I will be splitting the cost of her bills and rent for as long as we can, but this really caught us off guard.. My parents have always lived paycheck to paycheck... Not only am I scared and frustrated about the prognosis, I am pulling my hair out worrying about finances and how I will afford keeping her comfortable. Is there any org that provides basic living assistance? I will do everything I can to help her (including selling everything I own) but I don't think that will be enough.. Has anyone had a similar situation???

[jamie]

Sos sorry to hear about your Mom. First off, let me say that you sound like your willing to do anything you can to help your Mom, and that is great.

As far as the expenses go, Im sorry that I cannot be much help. For your Moms oncologist, if hes a pessimist, GET A NEW ONE! You guys need someone with hope. Try not to believe what he says about how long one has to live...is he God??? No one can say how long someone will live. I wish the best to you and your Mom, you might want to think about registering as a member here.

My dad was dx'd in Feb., and this site helps me more than you can imagine. My Dad is real young too, only 48. Keep us posted!

Jamie

[KathleenC]

I've been reading this message board since I found out (Only a week and a half).... The internet has been more helpful than any doctor I've encountered.. I'm sorry about your dad as well Its amazing how I am trying not to feel so sorry for myself at this time, but realizing that She (mom) has so much more to experience is really tough..

[dadstimeon]

Hi Guest,

Very sorry to hear about your mom. It is very overwhelming for everyone involved. Below is a link(s) that address finances. Hope this helps. My thoughts and prayers are with your mother and you. Peace, take care and God Bless. Rich

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 008,00.asp (PLWC Feature: Financial Support Resources)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html (Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues)

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... h&DB=books (NCBI / BookShelf)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=U ... sa&spell=1 (Medicaid)

http://www.thehealthinsurance.com/medicaid.htm (Medicaid)

http://www.thebeehive.org/health/contests/medicaid.asp (Medicaid)

http://www.lungcancerfyi.com/lung_cancer_faq.html ((Lung Cancer - Frequently Asked Questions)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/treatme ... osurg.html (Surgery - General Information & What to Expect)

http://www.lungcancerfyi.com/lung_cancer_glossary.html (Lung Cancer Glossary)

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http://www.vh.org/adult/patient/cancerc ... index.html (Understanding Blood Tests / A Guide for Patients with Cancer)

http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/tr ... ng/patient (SCLC)

http://www.meds.com/pdq/smallcell_pat.html (Medicine OnLine / SCLG)

http://health.allrefer.com/health/prima ... -info.html (Diseases And Conditions / SCLC)

http://www.hospicefoundation.org (Hospice Foundation Of America)

http://www.hospiceweb.com (Hospice Web)

http://www.hospice-america.org/consumer.html (Hospice Association Of America)

http://www.hospicenet.org (Hospice Net)

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 151,00.asp (PLWC Feature: Talking to Someone With Cancer)

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/ ... 87526.html (3-year-old keeps her smile in battle with rare cancer)

http://www.rfalung.com (Radio Frequency Ablation Of Lung Cancer)

http://www.lungcancercoalition.org (Global Lung Cancer Coalition)

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 008,00.asp (PLWC Feature: Financial Support Resources)

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/healt ... hqcanc.htm (Best Hospitals)

https://www.alcase.org/advocacy/sign_the_petition.html (Advocacy /Sign the Petition)

http://www.cancersymptoms.org (Oncology Nursing Society)

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 008,00.asp (Questions to Ask the Doctor)

http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html (With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free)

http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org (The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS)

http://www.centerwatch.com (Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch)

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer (Lung Cancer In The News)

http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp (The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free)

http://www.drugs.com (Drug Information Online)

http://www.alcase.org (ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov (Unites States / National Library Of Medicine)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html (Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia)

http://www.google.com (Great Search Engine)

http://blochcancer.org (R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients)

http://www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society)

http://www.cancer.gov (Cancer Information Service / NCI)

http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org (Cancer Research Center)

http://www.aicr.org (American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR)

http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org (Cancer Hope Network)

http://www.acor.org (Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders)

http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html (Lung Cancer Information Library)

http://www.lungusa.org (American Lung Association)

http://www.ama-assn.org (American Medical Association)

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer (Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer)

http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 (Healthfinder)

http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm (Medicine Net)

http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm (Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory)

http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung (National Foundation For Cancer Research)

http://www.patientadvocate.org (Patient Advocate Foundation)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html (Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects)

http://www.cancerlinks.org/lung.html (Lung Cancer Links)

http://www.cancer-free.com (Cancer Free Connections)

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/C ... ung_cancer (Health Insite)

http://www.lungcancerclaims.com (Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer Information Page)

http://www.cancerlifecenter.com/engine. ... =dictionar (Cancer Life Center/ Cancer Dictionary)

http://www.canceryellowpages.com/Resour ... G%20CANCER (Cancer yellow Pages)

http://icare.org (ICARE / The International Cancer Alliance)

http://www.vh.org/index.html (Virtual Hospital)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html (Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues)

http://cancernews.healthology.com/focus ... cancernews (Cancer News)

[Frank Lamb]

Sorry to hear of you & your family's misfortune.My wife & I also have had great difficulty getting by.The first thing my wife did was call the American Cancer Society & they gave her a whole list of places to call for lots of diff. things.With hard work & lots of phone calls there are usually somewhere to get help.Best wishes to you in the upcoming journey.

[betplace]

Your Mother will probably qualify for SSD and possibly SSI. Have here call the Social Security office for an appointment right away, that will help some. Good luck and we are praying for your Mom and your family.

Blessings

Betty

[ginnyde]

Also, many drug companies have programs for low income patients, offering drugs for free or much less expensive.

You have to keep looking and asking. Help is there.

[norme]

The Social Security phone number is 1-800-772-1213. If she has Cobra then evidently she worked. Has she worked 5 out of the last 10 years before she became disabled and had jobs that she paid into Social Security. If so, and she is fully insured, she should most definately file for benefits.....

[kimblanchard]

I called the American Cancer Society about my husband losing his job - at the time they referred me to several agencies and one of them was offering rent assistance. Give them a call 1-800-227-2345 or 1-800-688-0147.

[Guest HerSon]

You should be able to get all your expenses covered through disability (SSD) and suplimentary (SSI) Social Security. You can also get welfare, food stamps, and medicaid (to cover all your medical expenses)! Good luck.