Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund
The Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund is available to Mason County women who are non-insured or underinsured for breast cancer treatment and are receiving treatment for breast cancer at Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics. If you would like to apply, please call Women’s Health at Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics at (360) 427-9590 and press option 6; (from Allyn (360) 275-8614, and ask for Women’s Health in Diagnostic Imaging). A gift to the Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund will go toward funding breast and cervical cancer treatment. This much needed fund helps with the expenses of breast and cervical cancer treatment for those who have no other financial options.
Download an information brochure | Download Spanish brochure | Download Application Form for Financial Support
Karen Hilburn Fund Presented with $20,000 Check
The Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund (an affiliate of Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Foundation) was presented with a check for $20,000 from the Charitable Trust of Margery Jones. Karen Hilburn, founder of the Fund (left), was presented with the check by Ms. Jones’ niece, Betty Temple. Ms. Jones was a 1930 graduate of Irene S. Reed High School and grew up in the Shelton area. “This seemed like such a natural tie-in,” said Betty, as she presented the check. “My aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer and survived, and, I too, am a survivor of breast cancer. When I first heard of the Fund, I knew we wanted to help.” Mrs. Temple’s Aunt Mary had left her estate to be donated to “charitable non-profits”. The Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund helps women who are underinsured or uninsured with the expenses for the diagnoses and treatment of breast and cervical cancers.
Hilburn Fund Helps Local Woman
Michelle Indermuhle of Union enjoys the peaceful setting at her place of work, Harmony Hill Retreat, located along Hood Canal. Michelle is at peace with her health, thanks to the Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund (KHBCCF) and to Mountain View Women’s Health Clinic, operated by Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics – where 15 to 17 pre-cancerous lesions were detected on Michelle’s cervix.
“I was only 26, married, and a mother of two when they were found. It was hard at the time, as my husband was recently unemployed and we had no health coverage.”
It was at the Clinic that Michelle heard about the KHBCC Fund, which helps women in Mason County who cannot pay for the diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancers. “Even though I didn’t technically have cancer, it was at a pre-cancerous stage, so getting immediate care was critical,” Michelle added. After several treatments and many invoices paid by the Fund, Michelle is pleased to report that ‘all is well’.
“I am so grateful to Karen and her Fund,” Michelle said, while enjoying a fall afternoon at Harmony Hill. “I don’t know how I would have paid for this if it hadn’t been for Karen’s Fund.”
If you know of anyone that may need assistance from the KHBCC Fund – call Karry Trout, Patient Navigator for MGH’s Early Detection and Patient Navigation Program, at (360) 432-7706.
Angela's Story
Angela’s cancer story began in the summer f 2008, with the diagnosis of lymphoma in her young son, Isaac. If that were not enough, Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer the following October. Soon the bills arrived with a total of $28,000 needed to pay both of their deductibles. Life seemed hopeless. That is when the Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Fund became Angela’s “beacon of hope”.
“The Karen Hilburn Fund has helped me pay the deductibles for my cancer diagnosis and treatments”, said Angela. “Without this help I don’t know what I would have done.”
Her story is so common. Angela and her husband, David, and their two sons live in Union. And David now works two jobs. They had healthcare coverage, but with a high annual deductible, they were burdened with over-whelming expenses. If you know of someone who needs help with the cost of breast or cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment tell them about the Karen Hilburn Fund. Maybe they, too, can have hope.
Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund donates $5,000 to Oakland Bay Pediatrics
The Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund, an affiliate of Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Foundation, recently donated $5,000 to Oakland Bay Pediatrics, Shelton, to help pay for the “Gardasil” vaccine that helps prevent certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Gardasil is designed to prevent infection with HPV that currently causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in women world-wide, and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the majority of developing countries. “This is a wonderful and much needed grant to help administer the three-step vaccination to female patients,” said Terry Megiveron, director of clinic operations for Public Hospital District No. 1 – the governing body that manages Oakland Bay Pediatrics. The three injections are given over a six month period to women from 9 to 26 years of age. To inquire about the Gardasil vaccine, call Oakland Bay Pediatrics at (360) 426-3102.
Karen Hilburn Breast Cancer Fund Expands Service
Karen Hilburn Breast Cancer Fund recently announced that it is expanding its service to include the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer at Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics for women living in Mason County who are non-insured, underinsured or without any other financial option.
“We are very pleased to announce that the Fund has been so successful that we can extend our help to cervical cancer as well”, said Karen Hilburn, founder. Until recently, the Fund only provided for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment at MGH. The KHBC Fund is as active as ever, with a most recent assistance of nearly $6,000 to a local woman with breast cancer.
“Without this assistance, we would never have been able to pay for the treatment”, said the patient’s husband. “We were overwhelmed with the cost involved, and so grateful and relieved when the (KHBC) Fund came through for us”. The Fund has been in existence since 2004. To date, approximately 30 women in Mason County have been helped with their medical expenses for breast cancer.Local women who may be eligible to receive the assistance should call Women’s Health at Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics at (360) 427-9590 and press option 6; (from Allyn (360) 275-8614, and ask for Women’s Health in Diagnostic Imaging).