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Jennifer Madsen
English 2010
Professor Nathan Cole
March 2013
The Cost of Survival
Cancer was once considered a death sentence, but with advancements in surgical techniques and more
effective drug treatments, surviving cancer is possible. However, for some, the cost of treating cancer is a
financial death sentence, which few survive.
Twenty-eight-year-old Jamie Miller has Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer in her blood and bones.
Jamie is insured, but with her treatment expected to last close to a year, she will not be able to return to
work for quite some time. With the loss of her income,
she is worried how she will pay for the life-saving
treatments she needs.
“Being told you have cancer, need chemotherapy and a
bone marrow transplant is horrifying enough, but then
you realize how expensive it’s going to be to treat and
you’re horrified all over again,” she says (Miller).
Picture 1
Unfortunately, for Jamie and approximately 140,000 other people expected to be diagnosed with
Leukemia this year, they are in for an expensive fight. Elizabeth Kitlas, an information specialist at the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society says that the cost of leukemia treatment is substantial even for people
that have insurance. “Someone who has leukemia may have a doctor’s visit three to four times a week. In
addition, those that have a bone marrow or stem cell transplant need as many as 50 medications
afterward,” (LLS). Every doctor’s visit and 30-day supply of medication requires a co-payments, which is
the portion you have to pay that is not covered by your health insurance. Patients pay an average of $712
per month on co-payments according to Researchers from Duke University Medical Center (Duke
Health.org). Covering the cost of co-payments alone could potentially bankrupt some cancer patients.
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According to research done at the Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, “Cancer patients are twice as
likely to file for bankruptcy as the general public” (Andrews). They also found that certain types of
cancer carry a higher risk of bankruptcy; Leukemia was third on the list, confirming Jamie’s fears of the
financial burden her treatment will cause.
The financial burden not only affects patients, but their families as well. A national survey
conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of public health found that ten
percent of Americans have someone in their household that has been diagnosed with cancer and
that for most of the families, treatment costs caused considerable financial stress, even with
health insurance.
The cost of treating cancer is a burden for most families who are affected by the
disease. Nearly half of these families say that the costs of cancer care were a burden
on their family, including one is six who say such cost were a MAJOR burden.
(Kaiser)
Financial Cost of Cancer
Percentages
Used up all or most of savings
25%
Borrowed money from relatives
13%
Contacted by a collection agency
13%
Unable to pay for basic necessities like food,
heat, or housing
11%
Sought the aid of charity or public assistance
11%
Borrowed money/got a lone/another mortgage
7%
Declared bankruptcy
3%
Source: USA Today/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health National
Survey of Households Affected by Cancer (conducted Aug 1-Sept 14, 2010
Jamie is confident she will survive cancer. Although she faces a long physical, mental, and
expensive journey, she will not have to face it alone. Her husband Mark, her two beautiful
children, and extended family will be there every step of the way.
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“I have so much to live for and my family and I are prepared to spend whatever is
necessary to keep me alive,” she says (Miller).
Surviving cancer is possible; people are doing it every day. Surviving the cost of cancer
however is proving to be a challenge that many cannot overcome. Nevertheless, for Jamie Miller
the treatments that will keep her alive are worth every penny.
Jamie Miller, Mark Miller and their two children Colby & Haylie
Picture 2 (Niederhauser)
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Works Cited
Andrews, Michelle. "The Five Cancers Most Likely To Push You Over The Financial Edge."
Capsules. Kaiser Family Foundation, 11 Oct 2011. Web. 6 Mar. 2013.
Duke Medicine News and Communications, . "Medical Bills Force Cancer Patients to Skimp on
Care and Necessities." Duke Health.org. Duke University Health System, 06 June
2011. Web. 6 Mar 2013.
Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health, . “National Survey of Households
Affected by Cancer,” (conducted Aug 1-Sept 14, 2006). Web. 1 Mar. 2013.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), . Leukemia. White Plains: Leukemia Lymphoma
Society, 2011. 12-13. Print.
Miller, Jamie. Personal Interview. 2 Mar 2013.
Pic. 1. Serokin, Nikolai. Stethoscope On Money Background. 2011.
Photograph. Depositphotos.comWeb. 16 Apr 2013.
Pic. 2. Niederhauser, John. Miller Family. 2012. Photograph.
Facebook, Sandy. Web. 16 Apr 2013.
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