Navigating the Cost of Treatment
- Skating coach Milara “Milly” Okabe is battling stage 4 cancer at age 22 and has stepped away from the rink to begin treatment. Her boyfriend, NHL prospect Austin Roest, shared her story and helped bring awareness of a GoFundMe supporting her treatment and family, which has raised more than $87,000.
- Medical bills can burden anyone, but if you’re facing enormous health costs, it’s important to understand you’re not alone and there are resources to help you pay your bills and ensure you get the care you need.
- You can negotiate payment plans, seek out government assistance programs, or look to advocacy groups.
- SurvivorNet offers lists of resources available to you for help paying your health bills.
- Patient navigators can be an invaluable help during your cancer journey. They can help patients though the treatment process, including setting up appointments, getting them financial, legal or other forms of support, setting up transportation, and more. A patient navigator can also help patients communicate with doctors, insurance companies, employers, lawyers, or others involved in medical care.
- For more resources on support for caregivers, sign up for SurvivorNet’s caregivers guide.
Okabe’s boyfriend, hockey player Austin Roest, 22, who was selected by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, has shared her story to help bring attention to a fundraiser created to support her treatment and care.
Read More“Milly, I don’t even know what to say. I am so sorry this is happening to you. No one deserves to go through this. That being said, I have no doubt in my mind you will beat cancer. You are the strongest person I know and I know you will overcome everything that comes your way over the next year,” Roest wrote alongside a photo of him and his girlfriend in the hospital.View this post on Instagram
“I love you so much and I will be right there with you through all of this. We have also started a GoFundMe to help support Milly and her family during this difficult time.”
The GoFundMe, set up by Okabe’s friend Kristin LeDuc, was launched to help support her through treatment and the challenges ahead.
LeDuc writes on the fundraising page, “Milara is so much more than her diagnosis. She is a kind, strong and selfless person who means so much to everyone around her. Skating has always been a huge part of Milara’s life. After spending years as a high-level skater herself, she now loves being able to share that passion by teaching kids how to skate. Outside of the rink, she is constantly with the people she loves the most – her friends and family, as well as simply having the most fun in everything she does.
“As Milara goes through treatment, her family is doing everything possible to remain by her side. Along with the emotional weight of her diagnosis, she is now facing time away from work, travel and accommodation costs, medications, fertility preservation, and many other unexpected expenses.”
View this post on Instagram
The GoFundMe was created to support Roest’s girlfriend and her family amid the financial burden of her diagnosis and treatment, so they can focus on Okabe’s health, comfort, and care.
“All funds raised will go directly toward supporting Milara throughout her treatment. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful difference. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page and keeping Milara and her family in your thoughts and prayers would mean just as much,” LeDuc added.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting Milara and her family during this incredibly difficult time. We will continue sharing updates as her treatment progresses while always respecting Milara’s privacy.”
Helping You Find Financial Resources for During Treatment
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- Other Ways to Get Help Paying The Cancer Bills as New Research Finds Crowdfunding Sites Often Fall Short
- Guide to Financial Planning After a Cancer Diagnosis: Planning Is So Important For Peace of Mind
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“There’s a lot of fear of the unknown, but what I do know is that I am extremely lucky in this life to have friends that are family, and a family that loves me this hard. GoFundMe has been started to help support me and my family during this difficult time,” Okabe captioned a post shared on her Instagram page.
“Sharing the link is just as appreciated and helps more than you know. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in any way. I’m so extremely grateful.”
View this post on Instagram
The ice rink Okabe coaches at also took to social media to raise awareness to her GoFundMe. The Okotoks Skating Club, captioned an Instagram post, “Supporting Coach Milly. Our OSC skating family is coming together to support someone who means so much to our club. At just 22 years old, Coach Milly has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 adenocarcinoma and will be away from the rink as she begins treatment.
“Milly has spent so much of her life at the rink — first as a high-level skater herself and now as a coach, sharing her love of skating with our skaters. She is incredibly loved by our OSC families, and we want to make sure she knows just how many people are thinking of her, cheering her on and standing behind her.”
The skating club that shared that skaters in the community are being invited to make “Coach Milly” a personal card, while families can also contribute comforting items to a care basket.
“Milly, your entire skating family is behind you,” the club added.
View this post on Instagram
The Cost of Cancer: The Basics
One of the first questions many people ask themselves after a diagnosis is, how am I going to pay for cancer treatment? Navigating the payment process can, at times, feel more stressful than the treatment itself.
To help you navigate what can be a particularly stressful and confusing aspect of the cancer experience, SurvivorNet has spoken to doctors, financial experts, and survivors who have been through treatment themselves. They’ve shared their guidance and advice for paying for cancer treatment no matter your financial situation.
RELATED: How Can Doctors Help by Advocating for Patient Care?
Oftentimes, doctors recommend taking time to sort through your finances first and then enlisting the help of a social worker or patient navigator, if possible. These specialists may be employed by the center where you are planning to receive cancer treatment.
“Financial planning in the setting of cancer is the most stressful thing,” Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist at University of California – San Francisco, tells SurvivorNet.
“It’s right up there with, how long am I going to live? The first thing you have to do is recognize your limitations.”
Dr. Nina Shah explains where to seek help paying for cancer treatment.
Dr. Shah suggests taking stock of your finances and looking for any money that is liquid. Perhaps it was set aside for travel or something similar.
Cancer often affects the whole family. You may end up having to take off work to undergo treatment, and your caregiver whether that’s a spouse, sibling, or friend may need to miss work as well to help you.
Dr. Shah suggests seeking the guidance of a social worker to understand what resources are available to help you cope.
“The best way to … find the resources that are available is to speak with the social worker associated with that [cancer center], because that person usually knows what resources are available and what you can do to access them or apply for them and where you may or may not qualify to receive them,” she says.
Financial Help: Where To Look
When it comes to paying for cancer, there are people specifically designated to help you navigate the process. Social workers and patient navigators often work at cancer centers or hospitals, or other organizations associated with these facilities. These employees can assist people with many aspects of the cancer journey, including navigating medical bills and other finances.
“Patient navigators can function differently at different hospitals,” Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph, a surgical oncologist at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
“We have a really wonderful program at [NYU] where we used lay navigators … that pretty much help newly diagnosed cancer patients through the continuum of care.”
These navigators can meet with patients right after the diagnosis and can also:
- Attend appointments
- Provide an assessment for next steps of care
- Assist with housing, transportation or immigration issues
- Help with financial issues
- Provide direction on legal issues
“They really will help them get through these barriers that we think could impact their care,” Dr. Joseph added. “Because the goal is we want them to complete their care.”
Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph explains how patient navigators can help patients.
Financial Resources to Consider
If you’re having difficulty finding resources or answers about how to get help paying for a disease or cancer you are battling, there are a few options you can consider. You can negotiate payment plans, seek out government assistance programs, or look to advocacy groups.
These are a few of the options cancer patients and their loved ones have to get help covering costs associated with treatment (from drug co-pays to travel assistance):
For Help With Treatment Bills
- The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition can direct patients and their families to available local services.
- Many treatment centers offer extended payment plans and some may offer temporary payment delays, according to the American Cancer Society.
- CancerCare, which connects patients with oncology social workers, may be able to assist with co-pays, transportation, and other costs associated with care.
- The HealthWell Foundation may be able to help uninsured patients pay for treatment.
- The American Cancer Society may be able to link patients and their families up with local resources (they offer a 24/7 helpline).
- The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) works with patients and their insurance companies to resolve issues and may provide direct financial support to some patients.
- The Patient Access Network Foundation may be able to help with out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer treatment.
What to Know About Choosing a Care Team
“Cancer care is multidisciplinary, and a team approach is simply the best way to organize it,” Dr. Elizabeth Berger previously told SurvivorNet. Berger is a breast surgical oncologist in The Breast Center at Yale University’s Smilow Cancer Center in New Haven, CT.
Cancer care team members strive to stay on the same page and communicate a clear and uniform message to their patients.
“Teams communicate on an almost daily basis. When I receive a [lab] report on a patient, I reach out to the radiologist and the medical oncologist right away. We have calls where all members of that patient’s team are on the call discussing appropriate care for each patient,” Berger says.
Your care team can be thought of as a bicycle wheel containing a hub and many spokes. You won’t handpick each member of your team. Most likely, the doctor you start your cancer care with, whether that’s a surgeon or a medical oncologist, will refer you to the other doctors you need. Of course, if one of those doctors isn’t a great fit, you can try another.
RELATED: Cancer Care Teams Attack Cancer from All Sides: A Breakdown of Who’s In Your Corner
Core providers form the hub and can include:
- The surgeon
- The oncologist
- The radiologist
The spokes may be comprised of various providers depending on what you need. Your team could include:
- A genetic counselor
- A nutritionist
- An emotional support
- A reproductive medicine specialist
- A physical therapist
How Patient Navigators and Social Workers Help
A patient navigator plays a crucial role in guiding individuals through the complex and often overwhelming cancer journey. From diagnosis and treatment to financial challenges and follow-up care, they provide essential support every step of the way.
When patients are juggling emotional distress and an influx of medical information, a patient navigator can be a lifeline—helping them access resources, coordinate care, and focus on healing.
“Patient navigators can function differently at different hospitals,” Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph, a surgical oncologist at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
The Power of Social Workers
“We have a really wonderful program at [NYU] where we used lay navigators, meaning they’re not nurses, although you can use nurses or social workers, that pretty much help newly diagnosed cancer patients through the continuum of care.”
These navigators can meet with patients from their first doctor’s appointments and can also:
- Attend appointments
- Provide an assessment for the next steps of care
- Assist with housing, transportation, or immigration issues
- Help with financial issues
- Provide direction on legal issues
“They really will help them get through these barriers that we think could impact their care,” Dr. Joseph added. “Because the goal is we want them to complete their care.”
Caregivers Make a Significant Difference for Patients Day to Day
Becoming a caregiver for someone with cancer is both a deep act of love and a significant responsibility. This role can include attending doctor visits, supporting treatments, helping with everyday tasks, and—perhaps most importantly—offering emotional comfort.
Caregivers often emerge from a patient’s close support circle: a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, or even a child. These individuals take on multiple roles to ease the journey for someone they care deeply about.
WATCH: Caregivers help make patients’ lives easier during treatment
Typical responsibilities include:
- Accompanying the patient to appointments
- Asking questions and taking notes
- Providing transportation
- Staying present during treatments
- Tracking side effects and symptoms
- Connecting with social workers or patient navigators
- Assisting with daily activities
- Offering steady emotional support
While caregivers serve as pillars for their loved ones, it’s essential that they don’t neglect their own need for support. Social workers and patient advocates can help guide caregivers through treatment logistics, mental health resources, and financial aid options.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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