Lexey Swall/Staff Bills for Susan Alderman's cancer treatments are multiplying. Complications with her medicaid designation means that some bills are not getting paid when they should. She has had to quit her job as a massage therapist because treatments have wiped out all of her strength. Unlike Collier County, Lee County lacks programs that help cancer patients with the financial burden their illness causes. So far, Alderman has relied on the kindness of her friends and some strangers to help with her finances. Some things just don't get paid. 'In Lee County, there isn't an organization like the ones in Collier County that would help her,' said Miriam Ross, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida affiliate for breast cancer research. The Komen Foundation doesn't help individuals directly. Instead, all money raised through donations or events goes toward research or providing grants to established charitable organizations.

Photo by LEXEY SWALL

Lexey Swall/Staff Bills for Susan Alderman's cancer treatments are multiplying. Complications with her medicaid designation means that some bills are not getting paid when they should. She has had to quit her job as a massage therapist because treatments have wiped out all of her strength. Unlike Collier County, Lee County lacks programs that help cancer patients with the financial burden their illness causes. So far, Alderman has relied on the kindness of her friends and some strangers to help with her finances. Some things just don't get paid. "In Lee County, there isn't an organization like the ones in Collier County that would help her," said Miriam Ross, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida affiliate for breast cancer research. The Komen Foundation doesn't help individuals directly. Instead, all money raised through donations or events goes toward research or providing grants to established charitable organizations.

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