“Something catchy” cancer treatment financial help

TLDR (too long, didn’t read): my cancer has gotten worse. I am getting a second opinion before I continue treatment but need help with my out of pocket costs.

I finished my chemo treatment on Dec 9, 2021. At that point, things were still looking ok (positive). The plan was to continue with Keytruda (immunotherapy) only, which should have been a constant “keep the cancer at bay” kind of thing. However, after having only one Keytruda only treatment, things went south. And in a hurry.

I went to urgent care Jan 18, 2022 with complaints of [to me] extreme pain in my left abdomen, right about under my ribs. (This pain really started in December, but I thought it was fluid build up (pleural effusion) again and requested a thoracentesis (draining of the fluid). But, there was very little fluid and no reason to get the thoracentesis.)

Anyway, the urgent care doctor had me do a CT scan. The results were the cancer has now gotten to outside of my stomach, around to my back, and along the spine. I assume into the lymph nodes in those areas. It has not gotten into my bones or into my actual spine (thank goodness for that). My oncologist stopped my Keytruda only treatments and now wants me back on chemo, but a different cocktail.

Since it’s the beginning of the year and the insurance calendar starts all over, I need to get approved by insurance (done) and work out the financials with the cancer center. While I am in waiting, I decided I want/need to get a second opinion before starting another treatment cycle. I have a request for an appointment at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. I do not know what they are going to say, so we will see.