My mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee.  She is Stage 3, Est/Prt positive, HER2 negative and the grade is aggressive.  She had a mastectomy on 9/21 and then 2 other surgeries because of complications (flap tissue died, dead tissue removed, new incision opened up then stomach tissue removed to make new flap).  Needless to say, it has been a very difficult ordeal for her and my family.
 
Her situation...my father passed away July 27 and three weeks later she was diagnosed with bc.  Both are retired, living off social security (with no other income) and on medicare.  When my father passed away, she began drawing my father's ss because it was the larger of the two.  After the mortgage note and utilities bills are paid, there is nothing left over for groceries, meds, spending money, nothing. I have spent days on the phone calling human services, medicaid, any number or lead they will provide to me and I get the same answer...your mother draws to much social security.  She is always just dollars over the qualifying limit.  We are at our wits end because we dont know what to do anymore.  She cannot afford the co-pays for her dr. visits, meds, etc.  My sister and I are sending and providing for her as much as we can but we have our financial responsibilities as well.  Does anyone know of any organization in the state of Tennessee that might provide some sort of financial help?  I have found orgs that provide help for chemo meds (we aren't there yet) but nothing that can provide help with co-pays, etc.
 
Any advice, direction pointing, insight, etc will be GREATLY appreciated.

If you log into www.breastcancer.org they have a full section on what help may be available to you. 
You could also try calling the komen helpline for info, and asking the social worker at your hospital:)

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex
Carepage- survivortricia

I've sent you a private message but also found http://www.cancercarecopay.org/.

Best of luck to you and your Mother.

MaryJo
Granger, Indiana
DX 6/27/08, age 45
Chemo survivor & lifetime supply of radiation

To endure is greater than to dare.  To tire out hostile fortune, to be daunted by no difficulty, to keep heart when all have lost it ~ who can say this is not greatness?      William Thackeray