Hi Karen,
Actually Dannys doing pretty well. The bill for my IMRT alone was over $300,000. That didn't include chemotherapy, 2 visits to the ER and a ton of scans and lab work. Of course because I have insurance, I only paid $5.00 copays for each doctor visit or prescription. The CCC sent me copies of the bills they sent to the HMO, which paid them.

The people who really suffer in the US are the middle and lower middle classes or people who own property. If you are totally indigent then the public health care system will pay for your treatment through Medicaid or eventually Medicare if you are diabled for longer than 2 years. It is a more institutionalized setting but I know of some people with very advanced lung cancers who were treated successfully at our local county hospital. Many of the county hospitals are also teaching hospitals much like is shown on "ER". Publicly funded hospitals have to take patients with no ability to pay. Unfortunately you can't own much personal property. Even an old car might disqualify you.
I would check with the county welfare office to see if you can qualify.

My wife and I have a very good health plan and it cost $1,113.00/mo. We are both over 50 (and I am over 55) so that increases the rates dramatically.

My total out of pocket expenses is closer to Karens, and that's over a three year period.