Imagine fighting for your life only to get stuck with a $46,000 medical bill.

One woman fought back, getting it down to $8,000.

And you too can get out from under medical debt.

It's hard enough to be a real-estate agent these days.

Much less a single mother fighting breast cancer without health insurance.

"I had a mound of bills piling up," said Carlene King.

"It was definitely overwhelming. When you're looking at one bill for $34,000, you don't need anything else. That's enough," she added.

When the unpaid debt tallied nearly $50,000, King considered bankruptcy.

Then she found Moncrief Cancer Resources, which provides support to people fighting cancer in North Texas.

Kimberly Conley is a medical bill advocate. She negotiates with healthcare providers to reduce or even forgive bills.

Her service is free.

"I think the calls have gone up probably 40-to-50 percent. Everyone panics when the economy is bad," said Conley.

Conley says hospitals and clinics would rather get some payment over nothing right now -- so now more than ever, they're willing to bargain.

King's medical bill plunged from $46,000 to less than $9,000.

And her stress level dropped too.

"I am very happy now. And it's all because the help I've been able to receive from them."

E-mail j.stjames@wfaa.com.