I was diagnosed just before I turned 59 and I've just turned 90. Okay, okay, 60 really but the side effects make me feel 90 some days.

I am a British citizen and grew up with the NHS but I was very happy with my American, employer provided, health insurance and my treatment in Pennsylvania. Although technically I have a High Deductible plan the deductible is only $1600 (which I hit in February this year and last). From now till the end of the year my cost for everything, including medicines, will be minimal. Plus my company gave up on the small employee contributions a few years ago and they pay it all now. The HDP give me access to a Health Savings Account that I've maxed out in my healthy years and now contains a lot of money. My PC has only slowed the accumulation (I pay for many things out of pocket) and has not touched the capital.

I feel very lucky to live within a few minutes of a respected cancer center and my diagnosis and treatment have been comprehensive and rapid. My insurance wouldn't pay for Yonza so I get generic Zytiga and I can live with that. For everything else I have had no issues and no communication with them.

I feel bad for those with no insurance, with argumentative or expensive insurance, and for those with delays in their socialized medicine. All my family live in the UK and I hear their horror stories. It is perhaps the main reason why I do not want to retire there.