Clarissa Henderson is a fighter. She was diagnosed with breast cancer twice in the past five years and the cost of treatment pushed her into financial straits that threatened her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. In December the local sheriff came to her door with an eviction notice.

But last month, finally cancer-free, Ms Henderson won the battle to stay in her home. On her fourth attempt to negotiate with her lender, Midland Mortgage, she obtained new terms for her $122,000 (€90,000, £80,000) home loan that reduced her monthly bill by $200 and gave her a fresh start.