As Gateway to Hope recently researched breast cancer screening access in St. Louis, we spoke with healthcare providers, patient navigators, and community organizations about the barriers women face when seeking breast healthcare and cancer treatment. Time and time again, they pointed to financial concerns as a major factor in a patient’s decision to pursue screenings and follow-up care.
For years, our patients have told us the same. Limited access to insurance and fear of unexpected medical bills can make mammograms and other preventive screenings feel out of reach.
After finding a lump in her breast, 19-year-old Mackenzie said her biggest concern was how she would pay for care. “I didn’t have insurance, and I knew anything [was] going to be expensive, especially at a hospital.”
When her doctor told her she needed a breast ultrasound, Jennifer — a mother to a son with special needs — wasn’t sure she could afford it. “I didn’t know how I was going to come up with $800 on the spot. I was thinking, maybe I don’t need this ultrasound.”
“Sometimes, having someone say, ‘Let’s figure this out together,’ is what a patient needs to take the next step,” says Crystal Cruise, Senior Clinical Program Manager and Screening Navigator. “We can help identify affordable care options, provide financial assistance, and connect patients with additional resources that remove barriers to accessing the breast health care they need.”
And for many patients undergoing breast cancer treatment, financial concerns go beyond the cost of care itself.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Angela faced the financial challenge of taking time away from work for treatment and appointments: “I only had so many sick days I could take.” Once those ran out, her pay would be docked when she had to miss work.
And Susie, a mother of two, said that while she’d like to buy healthier food while undergoing breast cancer treatment, there are times when even affording groceries is a struggle. “We never have enough,” she said.
“When someone is going through breast cancer treatment, the financial challenges can affect every part of their life,” says Karen Kasten, Senior Clinical Program Manager and Treatment Navigator. “It’s not just about being able to pay a medical bill. It can be about keeping the lights on, finding childcare, or making rent payments, while dealing with an active cancer diagnosis. For many of our patients, having breast cancer is only one thing on a list of many concerns that must be addressed daily. We strive to alleviate as many concerns as we can so that the cancer diagnosis can be the number one focus.”
This is why Gateway to Hope provides financial assistance to patients. In 2025 alone, Gateway to Hope provided $487,180 in direct financial assistance to help ensure that financial barriers don’t stand between patients and the care they need.
For Mackenzie and Jennifer, we covered the cost of their ultrasounds and provided gas cards to help them get to their appointments without worrying about how they would pay for transportation. We provided direct financial assistance to Angela to help make up for lost income and helped Susie with grocery expenses.
We believe no one should have to make the impossible choice between essential living expenses and healthcare that could save their life. Learn more about supporting financial assistance for Gateway to Hope patients at gthmo.org/get-involved.
