Cancer Patient Needs Help With Surgery Bills

Bill Estey was diagnosed with cancer two days before Christmas. A cyst, a little larger than a silver dollar that developed on his shin has developed into a melanoma. The prognosis is good as the surgeon feels it is contained and is not spreading, nonetheless, it must be removed. Bill is self-employed and does not have insurance and is 2 years away for being eligible for Medicare. Even though he is now a high-risk patient, he does not qualify for Medicaid (TennCare) because he is a male with no dependents. His surgery is scheduled for Feb 21. He has applied for financial assistance through Ascension St Thomas, but was denied. As it stands, he must pay out of pocket for the pre-op tests and the surgery, which at this point is estimated to cost anywhere between $10k and $13k. He will be out of work for several months until he is able to bear weight on his leg. Any help you can provide him with assistance in helping him pay his medical bills would be most appreciated.

**UPDATE**
Bill's surgery was a success.  He met with the oncologist Monday for a follow-up and to get the results of his biopsy.  It looks like she was able to remove the tumor and the surrounding tissue shows no sign of the cancer spreading.  Fortunately, there is no need for chemo or radiation, as it looks like she was able to get all of it with the surgery.  The skin graft is healing nicely, although there was a slight sign of infection.    He will have weekly appointments for the next 1-2 months to check his progress.  He still has a long road to recovery and will be off his feet for a couple of months and unable to work.  Your donations will certainly help in paying the increasing stack of medical and pharmacy bills.