SHARING YOUR COMMENTS

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"Where were you in 2005. I lost everything but my life." E.

"I think what you are trying to get started is amazing. It's incredible. You're right. Nobody should be fighting for their lives while worrying about losing their home or car, etc. I am only 16, so I have yet to pay my own bills. But from the stress of things my mom has been behind on her bills many times. We've had to worry about getting our electricity shut off because she couldn't pay the bill on time." S.

"My mother was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago. Lymphoma. She was unable to work due to treatments...and bills started getting behind. My dad works two jobs...they were forced to go bankrupt. There needs to be more help out there for cancer patients. It's bad enough dealing with it physically and emotionally...but to lose everything because of it...at the end to have your life but little else.....is insane!! H.

"We have insurance, but even with the insurance the bills are mounting. We will be selling our home soon trying to get the situation under control, but it is tiring taking from Paul to pay Peter and worrying about your credit and whether you will be able to buy another home. I cannot imagine what others do, especially without insurance or adults who are the breadwinners of the home and have to go through chemo/radiation. Something needs to change for everyone. Good luck!" C.

"Nobody should have to lose their home, car, or anything because of a serious illness." N.

"I've always wished there were programs out there to assist people through these tough times. I recently went through cancer, though not as extreme as most. I did it with medical insurance and have paid out a lot of money that I don't have. The least that could be done is some time off from their bills while they recover." S.

"I was diagnosed with colon cancer almost 3 years ago and went through surgery and a years wroth of treatments. It is a very hard thing to go through. I was 32 at the time with 5 young children, so I know how it feels to struggle with everything plus worrying about how to pay for it all. I want to thank you for trying to find a way to help out all of us dealing with this horrible disease and trying to make it a little easier." M.

"My cancer experience led me to bankruptcy at age 25." C.

"I'm a 3-year survivor and if it wasn't for friends and family helping us with all of our expenses, we'd be financially destroyed. It can get pretty frustrating sometimes but somehow we make it through. My wife and I think it's great what you are trying to do and we totally support you." S.

"I found out I had breast cancer in Oct. 06. Am having a hard time with chemo. My husband had open heart surgery in Nov., so it was a tough year for us. Keep us in your prayers!" B.

"I have been fighting breast cancer and uterine for 7 years, metastic cancer for 5 now and still fighting. It has spread to my bones and is now in my liver. I don't have any money, but please add my voice to yours and your goal. I am so far in debt my kids will never get out, and I know I'm not alone." C.

"I wish you were around in August 2005. I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, very aggressive and only given 3 to 5 years to survive. While off work, I was removed from my work insurance and had to pay my own cobra in which I had to remove my children until I recovered. I refinanced my house to help catch up, but may lose my house if I can't keep up. I am so stressed." M.

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I am 24 and a 3-year cancer survivor. I am still in debt and it's because I couldn't work while going through treatments. Got behind and have never been able to catch up." C.

"I am a 7-year survivor of thyroid cancer. I lost pretty much everything and live with my parents now." S.

"Although some cancers are short-term, they can and will cause you to lose your job under certain circumstances. I was out of work for 10 weeks following surgery, and chemo treatments made me so ill that when I did go to work, I couldn't concentrate. I have a friend with a part time job and no insurance and has been depending on charity. They treated her as if they didn't care." B.

"It should be a forced law that permits our government to allow us to be given a supplement to help us through these hardships. We have paid our dues, taxes, and time, and we are suffering." V.

"Four years ago I applied for SSI. I was denied, and denied again. It is still in appeals. I have lost everything but my life." C.

"I had family and friends help financially and medically. I don't know where I would be without their help." R.

"I am an ovarian cancer survivor, barely one year, but my husband and I lost our condo. SSI only provided for me for one year. I was forced to go back to work before I was well."

"I am so scared to get checked for cancer as I do not have adequate healthcare for myself or insurance to cover the costs." M.

"I has taken five years to receive my SSI." E.

"You end up losing everything, but you can stand up and say I still have my life. It is so depressing to have to start over." R.

"My brother had both of his breasts removed from breast cancer. He has been off work for almost two years now. SSI is still in appeals." P.

"In our battle, we lost everything. We had to file bankruptcy. It's been 7 years. We are slowly recovering, but will never fully recover financially." D

"They say that after you beat cancer, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. All of the programs for cancer deal with surviving during that first lifetime....not the second." D.

"This has been a financial hardship, and I am barely making it. I have a mortgage, bills are adding up and it's been a horror. Social Security is giving me a run around. I am barely able to walk." E.

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"I have bladder cancer. It cost me my future. I had to withdraw from college. I owe the school. I had other debts that have to be repaid. I get a very small amount on SSI to support me and my daughter. Not enough." F.

"As a single woman and small business owner I know all too well how difficult it is to continue supporting myself through this battle. The constant worry of how I will manage to be able to pay my bills. Even on my worst days, I drag myself out of bed and into my office in order to continue on." M.

"This was toughest on my wife. We were newlyweds when I was diagnosed - just broke ground on building a new home. We ran out of money and just signed papers to sell the house for much less than it's worth to move somewhere more affordable." D.

"Last week, I couldn't pay my electric bill and lost all the food I bought the week before. People from work donated $150 for me to buy food." C.

"It is amazing how much money goes to research, but very little of it actually goes to those who suffer the disease." C.

"I am only 43. We shouldn't have to deal with banks that are unsympathetic to our crisis. I was simply asking for an extension on my car loan and I had a bank employee almost screaming at me. I was going through a bone marrow transplant at the time. It was insane." A.

I am a survivor of cancer. I had vaginal and bone cancer. Nothing is fair about any illness considering that not only do you have to worry about losing yourself or your loved one, you also have to worry about losing your house, your car, your job, your wife or husband. It strips you of everything." S.

"My brother-in-law is dying of pancreatic cancer that spread to his lymph nodes, lungs and liver. He only has a few months if that. While they have insurance, they have LOT of out of pocket costs and deductibles. " E.

"Lost my job. Can't claim unemployment and fighting with DSHS just to get help with my medical bills. I have had 4 surgeries since the middle of August. The last one, I didn't know if I was coming back home to my 2 little girls." M.

"In the state of KS and MO, a disability attorney can only collect if the client wins and that amount or $4,000 or 25 percent, which ever is less. Still sucks, because disability people never approve anyone without an attorney." S.

"Shouldn't have to worry about keeping a roof over yours or your family's heads or even where your next meal is coming from." P.

"If it wasn't for my office friends, we wouldn't have had a Christmas for our 3 boys. We're trying to get back to our normal lives - it's hard. We have lost everything - my car, our home, and I was denied disability." J.

"My ex is dying from stage 4 lung cancer. He has yet to be approved for SSI. He had his first denial and will probably have to wait for two more before he's even considered. He'll be long gone before he gets any money." E. "My husband is going through treatment. We have lost everything. It's hard to get help." T.

"My brother is battling kidney cancer and can't work because of the chemo making him sick and weak. He's living with our parents." M.

"My wife and I lost everything. Our home, our kids were split up for a while, but at least my wife survived. We are now starting to get back on track. It has been six years and we're still recovering from the financial meltdown!." D.