More and more cancer sufferers are going online to help with cancer's financial burden
Cancer costs families their emotion, love, energy and in the worst cases, cherished life.
Even though it may seem impossible to add to such stress and hardship – it is – because treatment and time away from work drains money.
Earlier this year, cancer sufferer Chris Brugger and his wife told a Senate inquiry into the cost of cancer treament about how expensive it is for them.
It's why they started crowdfunding, to pay for the drugs that could keep Chris alive.
As reported by news.com.au, that 2015 Senate Inquiry into the availability and cost of cancer drugs heard that:
"The Therapeutic Goods Administration took an average of 31 months in 2012 to approve some drug treatments for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The Australian Melanoma Research Foundation warned the federal government was subsidising expensive and ineffective cancer drugs. It called for a cancer clinical improvement research fund.
Research director Brendan Coventry said there was an over-reliance on drug company approaches within Australian hospitals that was seriously limiting new and cheaper research approaches."
***Chris with his wife and kids at Parliament House after speaking to the Senate Inquiry***
That's an example of a poorly aimed, ineffective, inflexible and ultimately underperforming drug treatment scheme.
It's why people like Chris, are chooisng to go around the government system and are crowdfuning for cancer drugs and family loss of income.
But Chris isn't the only one doing it this way. Crowdfunding cancer treatment is becoming more and more common:
For whatever reason, these people can't get the financial assistance/backing/security they need from existing services.
Crowdfunding is where they've turned to for a bit of extra help. And thanks to the incredibly generosity of those close to them and everyday Australians, they're much closer to getting what they need.
***The incredible Jaye who is fighting cancer and crowdfunding financial support***