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Negotiating Medical Bills
I really have no choice given my cancer
When I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer 20 years ago, I lost the energy to hold a full time job. I have taken on part time work when I’ve been able to, but it’s been tough.
The real issue was that I could not be consistent — I had good days and bad days. On a bad day, I could barely get out of bed, brush my teeth, shower, and have breakfast. Then I had to lie down again. This went on for more than a decade after I first got cancer, though I tried desperately to overcome it.
People with conditions like fibromyalgia might relate.
For a while I worked as an artist because that is something that did not take up too much energy and I could keep my hours flexible. While it did not make me a lot of money, I was able to sell my art and also teach for a few hours a week. (I’ve featured a couple of my paintings in this article).
That meant I felt a certain level of dignity and self-respect.
This time around — that has been impossible. The metastatic brain, lung, and liver cancer I was diagnosed with in 2021 has royally kicked my ass. And…
