Right now this is what's going on. My best friend John lives with his grandmother Connie who raised him. Last November, so 7+months now, she found out she has lung cancer. Doesn't smoke, but that doesn't matter.
Connie is the sweetest woman and reminds me of my Grandma. Not a mean bone in her body, would do anything for you.
She had to wait ~4 months to get the referral from her doctor. Once she had that she could begin oncology.
3 months later she still can't get an appointment. Connie has tried and called repeatedly, as has John and his other family members.
They are broken watching her waste away, and she can't even get in to begin assessment much less treatment.
So tired of people with statistics which can be and are gamed, or people with money and insurance assuming everyone does.
Connie is going to die, she knows this, and her last few months are nothing but terror and frustration and sadness all around.
Original comment+My 3 family members who died to cancer. Being in the cancer wards and oncology centers and getting to know lots of patients.
This is the reality. If you have money and insurance cancer will break you. If you have nothing it is almost a guaranteed death sentence.
But hey, you've got a statistic!