Help with living? advice please, lung cancer, brain mets, radiotherapy.

clifft33534
clifft33534 Member Posts: 2
I went into hospital a few weeks ago with a headache; two CT scans and an MRI scan later, I was told I had a 4cm mass in my brain. Surgery was performed the very next day at TGH. They removed the whole tumor which we were told was lung cancer with brain metatases. Several weeks later I am still unable to work. I am awaiting radiation treatment on my brain and a 'Pet Scan' before they will operate to remove a tumor from my right lung. The pet scan has been nigh impossible to find, nowhere would do it until my medicaid came through and it has been several wasted weeks just waiting on bureaucracy. I expect more radiation therapy to the lung following the surgery when it can eventually be done. Financially it has been awful, I have worked my whole life, now I'm on disability and receive the grand amount of $16 a month in food stamps. I don't drive so getting to and from the hospital is a task in itself, I have to get two or three buses each way and my mobility is affected... I am consistently sore, stiff and achy. Today I got a call from ACS telling me I live "too close" for help with road to recovery, trips to the hospital and back, (I live maybe 30 miles from the hospital)which have to be daily during my radiation treatment. It seems like so many barriers are put up in the way. Any constructive advice from anyone out there would be much appreciated.

Comments

  • ColoradoDani
    ColoradoDani Member Posts: 65
    Have you talked to the
    Have you talked to the hospital social worker? Most big hospitals have one, someone who can coordinate resources. I can't think of anything else right now, but if I do, I'll re-post
  • Dapsterd
    Dapsterd Member Posts: 291

    Have you talked to the
    Have you talked to the hospital social worker? Most big hospitals have one, someone who can coordinate resources. I can't think of anything else right now, but if I do, I'll re-post

    Good Advice
    Yes....excellent advice. A social worker should be able to tackle all of these concerns.
    Financial, transportation, and most anything related to the logistics of cancer, accept the cancer itself!


    Cancer is a rough road ....

    Too bad you are not on the west side of Detroit, I would be glad to drive you to your appts.

    Best wishes

    Dave
  • arlekim
    arlekim Member Posts: 47
    Patient relations
    Hola Cliff, also ask to speak to the patients relations advocate in the hospital. They will advocate for ur needs n rights. And u can call social services and ask for "home bound" social worker visit. HRA will provide u w/ an assinged worker to come to ur home n fill out all paper work. Also the hospital patients relations dept should help w/ transportation n all of ur needs. Let me know if u need any more advice.

    Prayers
    Marcia
  • arlekim
    arlekim Member Posts: 47
    Patient relations
    Hola Cliff, also ask to speak to the patients relations advocate in the hospital. They will advocate for ur needs n rights. And u can call social services and ask for "home bound" social worker visit. HRA will provide u w/ an assinged worker to come to ur home n fill out all paper work. Also the hospital patients relations dept should help w/ transportation n all of ur needs. Let me know if u need any more advice.

    Prayers
    Marcia