Raymond Johnson is 26 and has male breast cancer, he works for a small construction company which is doing its best for him, but it does not provide health insurance., when he turned to Medicaid help cover the cost of treatments, he was knocked down. Medicaid rules vary from State and Johnson lives in South Carolina where coverage for treatment of breast cancer is provided only to women.
Johnson and his mother had to absorb the shock of his cancer diagnosis and then jolt cover expenditure no assistance from their state., he hoped lump in his chest was a potato cyst nematodes, but because it was large and painful, he sought help, a biopsy confirmed his breast cancer, he went to Charleston Cancer Center for surgery and for help with other treatments, it was there., he learned that he was on his own to cover the cost. Fortunately, he met a patient advocate, Susan Appelbaum, experienced in working with the State bureaucracy. Appelbaum noted, "breast cancer is not exclusive to women, I know, there are not nearly as many cases [of men] but it is certainly an issue to worry about," she said. "What this 26-year-old man will endure, with chemo, radiation and surgery, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars. This boy is never going to recover financially. "
Currently, Johnson has neo-adjuvant chemotherapy before surgery. When chemo is given in this timetable, doctors hope to shrink the tumor and stop the possible spread of the cancer. a small tumor means less surgical trauma for the patient-male or female, but chemotherapy drugs makes it impossible for Johnson to continue its work, as the side effects of his medical bills debilitating. already over $ 4000, precisely in the early stages of his treatment has turned him. Medicaid twicebut his patient advocate and hospital remains positive about helping him with finances.
Appelbaum has appealed to Johnson's Congressman and local organizations, who may be able to change laws and provide help with medical costs. "it is always a day at a time," said Appelbaum. "We will continue to try our best, because we want to help people, it is our task."in the meantime, medical bills and the hospital bills continue to come in the mail. Johnson now goes to Roper St. Francis Hospital, a non-profit organization, for he will not be denied treatment, treatments., and no collection agencies will be sent to dog him for money. Johnson's patient advocate will help work out a payment plan that is aligned to his current financial situation.
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