When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, your first concern is the process of treatment and the likelihood of remission. One of the very serious consequences of a cancer diagnosis is often a lot of medical debt. Cancer treatments, such as surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation are incredibly expensive, often costing thousands of dollars a week. Depending on the type of insurance your loved one has, some of that expense may end up as your family's responsibility, which can result in debt. It can be hard, even impossible, to pay down medical debt when an earner is missing work due to cancer.