Getting Insurance after Cancer DX

Hi All: I was wondering if any of you know if it makes any difference in getting Health Insurance after you have passed the 5 year mark after being DXed with cancer? When I was originally DXed my husband and I were in the middle of a "friendly divorce". I applied to several companies but the minute I said, " Stage III, Node Positive " they said ,"No way." Because he's a nice guy we stopped the legal process on our divorce so I wouldn't lose my health insurance coverage. It's been 3 years since DX and luckily I have been NED the whole time but now we both have significant others in our life (no plans to marry so it's not as if I can get health coverage through my "new" husband). We would both like to move on but could wait another 2 years to hit the 5 year Disease Free mark. If we went ahead with our divorce I know I can COBRA for 18 months and then there is a "High Risk Insurance Fund" available here in Calif. but I checked it out and it will cost me about $500 per month, which I really can't afford. I am only 52 so Medicare is a ways away and I make too much (but not a lot) for Medical. Do any of you have any suggestions? It is very scary to not have Health Ins. Thanks, Linda in Calif.