Healing is possible!

To our Dear Family and Friends:

Anyone who has suffered a long-term illness understands the weight of out-of-pocket expenses uncovered by insurance. Asking for help is almost as difficult as a breast cancer diagnosis itself. Four years ago, when I received that diagnosis, my partner Jackie and I were shocked, and we had no idea I would be facing years of treatment, travel expenses and a decimated income.

My name is Jen Peters. I’m a clinical massage therapist. My 30-year career has been devoted to helping people get out of pain and enabling them to function better in their daily lives. In September 2018, I was diagnosed with stage 2a ER+ her2- breast cancer. I immediately changed my diet- cutting out processed food, sugar, dairy, most grains and snacks- lost 40 pounds and felt great. I received regular acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. I opted for a mastectomy with reconstruction and began seeing an integrative internist. The high costs of the integrative treatments were all out-of-pocket, but I felt optimistic and empowered.

With an assumed early-stage cancer, the medical standard-of-care protocol does not involve scanning to check for spread. So we were unaware that it had. Six months later, I was painfully incapacitated by vertebral fractures in my low back. Scans revealed metastases to my spine, ribs, sternum and lungs. This time, we were devastated.

I received radiation for the largest tumors in my lower spine. Over the next two years, I took hormone-reducing drugs, oral chemotherapy, and continued therapies provided by my integrative doctor, acupuncturist, Healing Touch practitioner and chiropractor. I began a bioelectricity healing method called Tong Ren and continued my diet and exercise routine. My motivation to heal remained strong. The lung and bone lesions reduced in size by a third to half, and the lower spine lesions completely resolved! We were on the right track.

Then in August of 2021, because of a sudden hearing loss, I had a brain MRI that revealed a small lesion in my left temporal lobe, likely another metastasis. It was a serious blow. I received radiation for this lesion and two smaller subsequent lesions. At this point, I consulted with well-known and respected nutritionist Patrick Quillin, PhD. who has spent much of his career working with cancer patients. I began a more aggressive diet and supplement regimen. Of course, neither the consultation nor the supplements were covered by insurance.

In April 2022, scans revealed resumed growth in some of the rib and lung lesions, and new lesions were found in my sternum and liver. Again, incredibly discouraging news. We needed a new plan, and this summer, I became a patient at the Block Integrative Cancer Center in Chicago.

Standard medical therapies for cancer can be incredibly effective at reducing the size and number of tumors. This treatment aspect is crucial. However, tumors are symptoms and only focusing on symptoms is a seriously incomplete approach. The health of the rest of the body is equally important. After all, that is the environment in which cancer developed in the first place. Creating a robustly healthy inner environment makes it an inhospitable place for cancer cells and protects healthy cells from the damage of medical therapies. At the Block Center, I now have help with a strategy I don't have to piece together myself. More importantly, I'm working with medical people who believe, as I do, that healing is possible.

Each visit, I get an infusion of high-dose nutrients followed by chronomodulated chemotherapy and a second round of high-dose nutrients. The whole process takes two and a half days. Chronomodulation means the chemo is given within a window of time when the cancer cells are most active and is infused at a gradually increasing rate. This, along with specific high-dose nutrients, has been shown to increase the effectiveness of the chemo while minimizing the damage done to healthy cells.

My part is to continue with an aggressive diet and supplement program, maintain a vigorous exercise regimen and consistently work to minimize mental and emotional stress. As you can imagine, this is incredibly important and cannot be done in my spare time.

Throughout my journey, I have been an active participant in my treatment. I'm working as much as possible, but it is beyond my ability to cover my current treatment expenses, let alone contribute much to household costs. The anxiety associated with this financial burden is immense. Out-of-pocket fees have increased significantly, and the Block Center offers no monetary assistance or payment plans to its patients. Jackie covers most of the household expenses, and we both have incurred debt related to prior insurance deductibles, past treatments, and travel. The high-dose nutrient infusions, which are critical, are billed at $4,200 per visit. Monthly oral supplements cost roughly $1,100 per month, and travel/hotel/food add another $1,000 each trip (every three weeks).

At the same time, my income has decreased significantly. I'm regularly out of town now and have reduced my workload to rest and recover from fatigue and other side effects of treatment. I have been reluctant to ask for financial help, but I can no longer afford these costs. Having to choose between working more to make money to continue treatment or prioritizing my health by doing what I need to do to heal is an impossible choice, and the stress potentially undermines the progress I could make.

So I am asking for your help. Any financial assistance I receive will help me continue my treatment at the Block Center and allow me the time I need to keep doing my part: getting myself as healthy as possible.

I feel comforted and empowered by my spiritual faith and the stories of other survivors. Through the support of Jackie, family and friends, I remain highly motivated, and I believe healing is possible. I would be so grateful for any assistance I receive. Thank you.