Help Me Fight Cancer

My name is Deanna Graham and I was diagnosed with oral cancer on March 31st, 2023. It came as a bit of a shock and now, I'm doing my best to try and navigate a reality where I have to find a way to pay for cancer treatments, surgery, and recovery without insurance.

In December of 2022, I noticed a painful lump on the side of my tongue. By January, the growth hadn't gone away and, at the behest of a friend, I made an appointment with a dentist. My dentist saw me in February and reassured me that they didn't think it was cancer, but they gave me steroids to try and treat the area. It worked, but it didn't go away. I was referred to an oral surgeon for consultation, who told me that I would need to have the area biopsied to rule out anything malignant.

I had the biopsy at the end of March and a week later I was told that the growth on my tongue was cancerous. Invasive keratinizing well defined squamous cell carcinoma. I was absolutely devastated, but my main worry was the fact that I don't have insurance and I have no way to pay for cancer treatments. I have no way to pay for the time I'm going to have to take off of work in order for me to recover. I have no way to pay for radiation and surgery.

I applied for financial aid through the hospital, but my husband and I combined make $300 MORE a month than we need to in order to qualify for financial assistance.

I'm scared and stressed and ultimately ready to fight this cancer. I want to live. I want to survive. I'm asking you, please, help alleviate some of my stress and help me beat this cancer's ass.