Fighting for your life isn’t as hard as it sounds. It’s much harder and much more complicated.
The numbers are staggering – 47 million Americans have no health insurance whatsoever. And untold millions, when they need cancer care the most can’t get it, because of barriers to treatment such as inadequate transportation, loss of employment, insufficient or absence of insurance, and limited or no access to reliable information.
Although advances in screening, diagnosis and treatment have helped reduce the cancer mortality rate for two consecutive years, there are currently 175,000 people in Colorado alone, fighting this deadly disease, with an estimated 19,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients in 2008.
Facing the horrendous challenge of battling cancer is harsh enough, but no one should ever have to choose between cancer treatment and providing for their family.
The cancer continuum, from diagnosis through survivorship, requires assistance and targeted intervention from multiple sources at many points in time. And any disruption in that continuum can result in cancer growth and spread, increased costs of treatment, and ultimately the patient’s life.
Six years ago, I met a remarkable young man named Raymond Wentz. Ray was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and fought it with a graceful bravery that belied his 18 years.
His mother died when he was young and his father was unable to care for Ray and his sister, so the teens were left to fend for themselves. They managed to make ends meet, but just barely. The fragility of their condition left little room for burden. Especially a burden like cancer.
As his doctor, I did everything I could to defeat Ray’s cancer. As his friend, I wanted this valiant young man to have the chance to enjoy the reciprocal benefits of a life that had already inspired all who had the pleasure of sharing his company.
I reached out to my family and friends to join me in helping Ray and his sister with their financial burden. Ray died just months after his diagnosis, but I knew our work was not done.
To honor Ray and his courageous battle with cancer, I established the Raymond Wentz Foundation to raise funds to help other cancer patients who were simultaneously struggling with the awful challenge of fighting cancer, navigating our complicated healthcare system and enduring financial hardship.
In just five years, the foundation has provided nearly half a million dollars in direct financial assistance to 700 Colorado cancer patients in dire need.
In response to the urgent need for better access to quality care, the American Cancer Society has begun to place Cancer Resource Centers and Patient Navigators in cancer treatment facilities throughout the Denver metro area.
The Raymond Wentz Foundation is partnering with the American Cancer Society to help provide a cancer resource network that meets patients and caregivers where they are and when they need assistance, overcoming the barriers to accurate and timely care.
This cancer resource network is available 2-4/7/365 to connect with patients and caregivers at the point of diagnosis and provide personalized information, support, and resource referrals. The Raymond Wentz Foundation works in concert with the American Cancer Society to specifically address the financial barriers to quality cancer care by providing qualified patients with financial assistance for vital living expenses during their treatment.
It took a small but unified village to provide a little peace and comfort for just one of Denver’s children and today, Ray’s story of hope has helped spawn a cancer resource network that is currently helping hundreds of cancer patients gain access to the care they need.
But we’ve only scratched the surface. We need to increase the size of our village in order to serve the many thousands more who also deserve a fighting chance!
Dr. David Schrier of Littleton is an oncologist and founder of the Raymond Wentz Foundation.
