I am a 77 year old senior struggling with metastatic stage IV breast cancer. I live alone and have few resources beyond Social Security. There seems to be less and less help available. I actually made $5 too much last year to qualify for Medicaid. While I have Medicare I can’t meet the copays for things that are no longer covered, my Oncologist or the periodic PET Scans. Social Security doesn’t always meet my basic monthly bills. While food has not been an issue I need money to prevent homelessness and be warm. As the weather is getting colder I cannot afford fuel oil to heat my home. There is very little meaningful help available for that. This year it is limited.
My family is not supportive at all during my cancer journey and live far away. They have not been a resource for me for help. I was a social worker for foster care and adoption when I first got cancer 18 years ago. I was able to work caring for special needs adults. I retired and found Social Security wasn’t enough to live on. I returned to work as a home health aid. I loved it and cared for a number of clients that died of cancer. I took care of them on many levels. Then I became so ill I had to quit. I almost died at one point, was on oxygen and it turned out my cancer had metasticized. Now I’m still here and very surprised by the lack of care today. There were no aids available to help me when I needed it the most.
While I am independent and can manage on my own now physically I cannot return to work and need help.