Easing the financial burden in time of crisis

When facing a health crisis such as cancer, the last thing a person or their family wants to worry about is finances to sustain their lifestyle.

Should they find themselves in a situation of choosing between paying for treatments and paying a mortgage, Tina Kroepel says there should be no choosing - take care of the patient.

Kroepel is a "patient navigator" for the Nevada Cancer Institute's Fallon office. There are also offices in Elko and Sparks, with its main office and research center in Las Vegas.

Kroepel's job is to assess each patient who applies with the institute and help to provide emotional, financial and medical support to the patients and their family. The only requirement is the patient live in Nevada.

"We try to ease the burden of what the family is going through," Kroepel said.

Kroepel said the assessment process takes two weeks. The cancer institute provides funds for housing, utilities, food, car payments and others including vet care.

"If an animal is all the patient has at home for care, we will help with vet bills and care. We assess cases on an individual basis."

Linda Gorden is a four-time cancer survivor. She applied for assistance through Medicare and Medicaid only to be turned down.

"They said my husband made too much money," Gorden said. "When I went to UC Davis to be assessed for treatment, they looked and poked at me for 15 minutes, and said I would have to give them $20,000.

"Or, I could leave my husband and move to California and the state would pay for it (treatment). My husband gets $1,000 a month from Social Security. That's what we live on."

For Gorden that was not an option. She attended Monday's discussion at the Dayton Senior Center to hear of another option.

"It sounds good, but they (organizations) don't always help," Gorden said. "I'll talk with (Kroepel) and fill out the form and see what happens."

Kroepel emphasized that the institute does not offer medical care, referrals or advice. What they do provide for the patient and their family is transportation, outreach, nutrition and education guidance.

"I assisted 86 families in six months," Kroepel said. "Most of the funds for that came through grants from the Lance Armstrong Foundation."

Nevada ranks first in the nation for lung cancer deaths for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Nevada, it's estimated this year that 1,520 men and women will be diagnosed with the disease and about 1,420 will die of lung and bronchus cancer, according to the American Cancer Society

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

For your

information

WHAT: Nevada

Cancer Institute

WHERE: Fallon, Reno, Elko and Las Vegas

WHO: Anyone in need

CALL: Fallon, (775) 423-7060; Sparks (775) 356-8800; Las Vegas (702) 822-5433

On the Net

www.nevadacancerinstitute.org