Oct 19, 2026 · 11 min · 7 segments
***This time on Code WACK!*** **What does it take to survive cancer in America?** Working multiple jobs during treatment, borrowing from your 401K, launching a GoFundMe, or rationing your…
As of October, several bills had gone to collections, and Garina was more than $15,000 in medical debt.
With the exorbitant copayments and other expenses cancer patients face, she says it's no wonder some people choose not to get treatment.
A young lady that was a part of the congregation at my church, she refused her cancer treatment because she didn't want to leave her family with that debt.
And it's sad that she had to refuse treatment because in her mind, she did not want to leave her family with that debt.
And she left behind two kids that were in high school and a three-year-old at the time.
Also, as of October, Garyna's copay had dropped to zero because she had met her insurance deductible for the year.
Come the new year, she said she'd have to see whether she could qualify for assistance again or have to pay the staggering monthly copay herself.
As long as I'm living, I'm gonna continue to accumulate this debt because I have to continue to take medicine to be here to live.
As of October, several bills had gone to collections, and Garina was more than $15,000 in medical debt.
With the exorbitant copayments and other expenses cancer patients face, she says it's no wonder some people choose not to get treatment.
A young lady that was a part of the congregation at my church, she refused her cancer treatment because she didn't want to leave her family with that debt.
And it's sad that she had to refuse treatment because in her mind, she did not want to leave her family with that debt.
And she left behind two kids that were in high school and a three-year-old at the time.
Also, as of October, Garyna's copay had dropped to zero because she had met her insurance deductible for the year.
Come the new year, she said she'd have to see whether she could qualify for assistance again or have to pay the staggering monthly copay herself.
As long as I'm living, I'm gonna continue to accumulate this debt because I have to continue to take medicine to be here to live.
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