Country Icon Toby Keith, 61, Sets Goal of Being ‘Out on the Road this Fall’ Amid Ongoing Stomach Cancer Journey

"I'm feeling pretty good,” he said earlier this month. “I'm about another eight weeks from my last scan. So, I expect next time I look for that tumor to be even less and I've only got one that's shown up.

"Basically, everything is in a real positive trend. You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare."

Fans are anxiously awaiting Keith’s return to the stage, with the country star sharing that his “goal” was to get back on the road in the fall of 2023.

"I feel better; I've got more wind. And I'm thinking about bringing the band in and setting up, playing two or three days somewhere just to see if I can get through two hours," Keith said.  "And if I do, (I'll) be out on the road this fall.

"All I got to do is see if I can get through two or three nights of work and get a little break in this chemo, and we'll go back to work. I'm ready. That's living."

 

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Returning to Work During the Cancer Journey

For many people, going back to work during the cancer journey can make a huge difference. It can help survivors, like Keith, stay upbeat and positive throughout the process and can restore a sense of normalcy.

RELATED: 20 Years Ago, Toby Keith, 61, and Willie Nelson, 90, Made Booze-Filled Hit 'Beer for My Horses' Alcohol Makes Great Music But It Also Increases Cancer Risk

Working isn’t possible for everyone going through cancer. Many people need to take time off or even end up having to leave their jobs. If you’d like to continue working through cancer, it’s important to figure out a schedule that makes sense as you undergo treatment and/or recover from your cancer.

If it helps you stay upbeat and positive, you might even have better treatment outcomes.

What Still Brings You Joy? Your Emotional Health Is So Important to Living with Cancer

"We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes," Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation.

"So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that's related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities."

Resources to Help with the Bills

Unfortunately, many people feel a lot of pressure to work during a cancer battle because the bills are piling up and they’re not sure how they are going to pay for treatment.

Working During Your Cancer Treatment

“Most people are working when they're diagnosed, and finances are a significant issue for them,” Laurie Ostacher, a Behavioral Health Clinician at Stanford Health Care, told SurvivorNet. "I help folks think about whether it makes sense to work.

"If you really don't want to but are worried you're not going to be able to make ends meet, then I'll sit down and help them figure out, you know, with your disability insurance, would this be possible?"

Experts say getting a social worker/patient navigator can be an immense help if you’re struggling with the cost of cancer.

In addition, check out some of the resources below:

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.
• The Lazarex Cancer Foundation has programs to help patients cover costs associated with clinical trials.

For Help With Transportation and/or Housing

• There are several programs that may be able to assist patients if they need to travel by plane to get treatment, including Air Care Alliance, the Corporate Angel Network, and PALS (Patient Airlift Services).
• Patients with Medicaid may be entitled to help paying for transportation costs to and from treatment.
• The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program can hook patients and their families up with volunteer drivers.
• Mercy Medical Angels may be able to help patients and their families pay for transportation.
  The Healthcare Hospitality Network can assist with housing if a patient must be treated far from home.
• The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Program gives patients and their caregivers a free place to stay during treatment in dozens of cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

For Help With Food

• Food assistance may be available to people going through cancer treatment and their caregivers. Look into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  aka SNAP or a program like Meals on Wheels.

Covering Caregiver Costs

• Some states offer compensation to cancer caregivers. You can check with the Department of Health and Human Services for local resources.
• CancerCare offers free services to caregivers as well, and their oncology social workers may be able to connect struggling caregivers with mental health professionals, support groups, and other resources.

You can also check out SurvivorNet’s designated resources for guidance on paying for cancer.

Contributing: Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore

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