After Shock

Something that comes up with a lot of "lifers" or "thrivers" or those with terminal cancer* is that things are quite different from those with early stage or curable cancers.  We're the taboo cancer, the cancers that don't go away for good after our treatment.  Treatment is for the rest of our life, whether that is days, months, or years.  As much as people want to support you, the mass populace is all gun-ho to help the second you are initially diagnosed.  That's when they understand you'll be starting treatments so you will be sick or tired or busy with multiple appointments with multiple doctors.  Add a couple months and they seem to lose interest in assisting you with what really dogs many young adults with cancer: finances.  They are used to you having cancer now.  This is the After Shock of Diagnosis.

Cancer costs a lot.  It can cost your life, but before that there are expenses like: treatments that your province/insurance does not cover, parking, gas to get to the never ending appointments, transit passes, car repairs/maintenance from having to drive to those appointments, meals when you're just too weak or depressed to cook, childcare, and so much more.  All these things add up quick and your debt gets larger and larger.  A lot of young adults get diagnosed before they even thought of getting life insurance or they are diagnosed before the probation period and the coverage is canceled.  That means once we're gone our families will be left in debt.

I have killed my pride and tried the gofundme route.  I have asked for help.  I am fortunate that I have a few friends that are sticking by me but it's the same ones each time and I cannot see them go in debt trying to help me.  Will not rob Peter to pay Paul.  This is something that isn't going to stop, at least not until I die.  I really am running out of options, everything I'm attempting fails.  I cannot work due to injury.  I cannot sell my art.  I cannot sell my possessions.  I cannot get a gofundme to work.  Where do I go now?

Where am I going with this?  No idea.  I'm angry and frustrated.  I needed to complain. 

*A lot of people use different labels for living with cancer