In 2005 Flecia was working full-time as a massage therapist. She had just gotten her license, and she was thrilled to be doing work she loved. But the lump she found in her breast turned everything upside down.
On December 23, 2005, Flecia was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of breast cancer. Fortunately, she qualified for Medicaid and was immediately enrolled in the health insurance program, which covered all her treatment. At the time of her diagnosis, the lump in her breast was already five centimeters, and by her second round of chemotherapy it was still growing.
Because Flecia’s cancer was so aggressive, she was enrolled in a clinical trial. After six months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and an exhausting round of radiation, Flecia was pronounced cancer-free. To this day, she is so grateful that she was able to be part of the clinical trial: “A lot of African Americans aren’t in research studies,” she said. “Every time I had a test or a biopsy related to the clinical trial, I thought: ‘This is worth it if I can help or save just one person. I’m doing this so at least one person will get better care.’”
In some states, Medicaid patients don’t have access to clinical trials. “I don’t think that’s fair,” Flecia said. “It’s unfair for them to not give Medicaid patients that option because you never know when you could save a life.”
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