How to get breast cancer treatment for uninsured women

For two years I had a dirty little secret. Like 45 million Americans, my family and I had no health insurance due to my husband's job shift from working for a carpenter's union to self employment. I priced health insurance with a local agency, but it was incredibly expensive and the coverage did not seem all that thorough. Fortunately, we were a pretty healthy family. I thought we would get back on employment-based insurance sooner or later, so we paid cash for services as we needed them.
Then last January I found a tender spot in my breast. I had not had a mammogram in two years, so it was time to get one anyway. I was comforted by the thought that there was no breast cancer in the family tree on either side, I nursed two babies for a year, and soy is a regular part of my diet. My doctor said it was probably a cyst, but a mammogram and ultrasound were ordered, and I got out the credit cards to pay for the tests. When the ultrasound tech invited another person in, I had the sinking feeling that something was not quite right. My doctor sent me to get an MRI, and the results of that sent me to a surgeon who ordered a biopsy. The biopsy was conclusive: I definitely had breast cancer and needed a mastectomy. My mind was reeling. I am in my mid-40s, I have two kids at home who need me, but I will probably die because I don't have health insurance.

That's when the survival instinct kicked into overdrive. There must be some kind of assistance out there because I was not ready to leave my boys.
I spoke to the person who ran the cancer resource center at the hospital; I spoke to the business office manager as well. I got as much information and advice as possible about from them. I also learned that there are hospital social workers to help people navigate mazes like mine. There are programs that get hospitals and doctor to "donate" services that can be a good tax deduction for the hospital versus writing off bad debt.
I teach part-time at a community college, and my husband's self employment was minimal, so I applied for assistance from social services. I have a master's degree and found the paperwork overwhelming and confusing. I wondered how women who have less confidence in their communication skills got through the paperwork and the system.
In the end, my family did not qualify for Medicaid, but because I did not qualify for Medicaid, I did qualify for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP). This program was put in place during the Clinton administration, and it is basically a backdoor into Medicaid specifically for breast and cervical cancer treatment. (http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2000pres/20000205.htm l) It helped me get an appointment with an oncologist, and it helped me pay for the tests that diagnosed my cancer. I quickly had a date for my surgery and was told the program should take care of my chemotherapy as well.
Suddenly, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Oddly enough, I was very excited to get a mastectomy, and I was looking forward to chemotherapy. I had hope that I could see my children grow up.
I shared my story with my family, my friends, and my community. All of them have rallied around me and given me so much love and support, more than I could have ever imagined or deserved.
I am in the middle of chemotherapy as I write, and I hope that it will make sure that I never have to deal with cancer again. But if I do, I know there is help if I just look for it.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Kahookele.
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