slight deviation:

from the perspective of someone who lives in canada and doesn't have to worry much about medical costs but worries a lot about the threat of privatization of our medical care because of nafta, i wish people in the u.s. would push for public health care as a basic right and tenet of citizenship.

i know this is "political" talk that might be prohibited on this board, but, really, there are few personal topics that are as political as health care, and you can't talk about cancer treatment without considering the health care system and its astronomic costs. i find it abhorable that people have to become destitute before they get assistance at a time of such vulnerability while they're dealing with such an illness. i know that this has been a major source of stress for my sister and family as it probably is for most people.