Wallet biopsy

ausrebel53 said:

Scary is right

Thanx Phrannie, happily alls well that ends well, I feel a lot more settled now that we know what is happening and that I can trust both doctors. Knowing the treatment plan and what to expect helps a great deal too. Panama City Beach is by no means hicksville but it isn't exactly a bustling metropolis either, there are a lot of retirees and elderly people here which is why I was surprised at the pre pay thing. It's not like there is a shortage of patients here.

regards Michael

Michael,

I am speechless.. That is horrible, what ever happened too do no harm? The ethics of balancing ones wallet with the quality of care is a tremendous ethics issue. 

Talk about... Speechless, or at least boing polite.

unreal..Kari

ps - good move on your part.. glad you can feel good about your doctor.

ausrebel53 said:

Public versus private insurance

Thanx Kari, I am still fortunate to be in this country Kari, at least I have freedom of choice (so far) and can change docs. I originally came from Australia                                  where they use govt. medical insurance (Medicare). Don't get too old or too expensive there, you will be left out to hang. My mother died of lung cancer at 77 in New Zealand (same type of insurance), she was too old I guess, they were so greedy over there that the hospital she was in requested she be moved 1 day before she passed away, they said it would be best for her (they kidding?). they just wanted her bed rather than let her pass in peace. I told them they could move her over my cold dead body...I think they got the hint.

I am grateful to be in this country for medical treatment and whilst there might be some greedy individuals they are vastly outnumbered by the dedicated many. I hope we can keep private insurance here because I have seen public insurance at work where you can literally die waiting for treatment, trust me you don't want it.

Its all about freedom and freedom of choice

Michael

where public health is also used.  I hear all the time how lucky we are here....not for long, tho....we're on the verge of government health care, and it scares me silly.  I've already been sick, and I'm 62....the only thing I can hope for is that I'm still covered by my employers insurance by the time I'm 65.  When that happens I'm afraid that health care will get very dicey.

p

Glad to hear you're overcoming the "business" of cancer! I had a friend send me an article concerning cancer and the costs, profits etc. The numbers are staggering! When I look at the statements from the insurance company, it blows my mind!

The attitude you're receiving from the doctors doesn't surprise me either. Last week, I called Winchester (where I "was" going to have treatment) and told them to put everything on hold. I haven't heard a peep since then... nothing! Makes me REALLY glad I sought a 2nd opinion and chose Johns Hopkins. They've been amazing!

Confidence in your doctors is imperative to your attitude and recovery.

Best to you!

"T"

ausrebel53 said:

Thank you for your comments,

Thank you for your comments, nice to know I'm not imagining things and that others have similar experiences.

Hair looks good Phrannie, looks like a new you

Michael

AirForce Vet said:

So glad to hear you have things on the go now!!!!!!  Get on the bus with us and lets ROCK N ROLL.  I agree with you about europe's socialized medicine.  Saw it first hand while I was stationed in Europe.  But sadly with OBAMA care it looks like the U.S. is going down the same road.  Most of the really bad parts do not start until after 2014.  Then like Europe look out if your old and have a disease Like ours.  They will just put you on the waiting list until you die because you are longer cost effective

sad that discussions about cancer have to sink into half-baked political commentary. last time I checked, cancer didn't pay attention to political leanings.

I can match anybody's anecdotes about Aunt Sally's urologist in Uzbekibekistanstan.

I had 18 years personal experience with a 'socialized' national health insurance program system myself. not perfect, but certainly high-quality and cost-effective. my current ENT is a product of that medical system, and I wouldn't hesitate to get treatment over there if that's where I was living. actually I looked into it, but relocating would've delayed my treatment.

my sister-in-law opted to get her breast cancer surgery and thyroid treatments done abroad last summer, rather than get it all done in Portland, Oregon. she's perfectly satisfied with her choice, and she saved a boatload of money (her cheapskate employer here doesn't provide health insurance). Not that treatment in Portland isn't first-rate, mind you. But fortunately she had the freedom to look beyond borders.

my elderly mother had emergency gastrointestinal surgery a couple of years ago in the Czech Republic, followed by a week in hospital there. total price: a bit more than US$2,000. When her doctor back here saw the work, he said that the only thing that told him it wasn't done in Ohio was the material used for the stitches.

maybe it's just me, but I find these boards most helpful when focused on the positive and heroic. let's deal in strength, dignity, and courage--not idle speculation and political fear-mongering.

cheers, douglas

ausrebel53 said:

Not being Political here

I'm only making a few observations here, there are good and bad in all systems. I believe I have the right to vent especially when I believe my mother died because of a bad part of a system I don't agree with (thought this was a free country and genuine opinions valued). I said I was happy and grateful to be here and be insured privately here even though the system is not perfect here as is the case ANYWHERE ELSE.

Being positive is certainly important, just as important as having the emotional freedom to vent from time to time. I am always happy to provide a shoulder as best I can, others have asked for understanding and now I do.

I have been put through the ringer on numerous occassions thanks to our insurance saying one thing then doing another, you weren't there when my wife burst into tears finding out just after being told I have cancer that our coverage could leave us in huge debt, they think, couldn't get a straight answer. I believe things are settling down now after much arguing with insurance and having to change chemo doc leaving me late to start treatment. So Douglas you tell me what I am not allowed to say here, love to hear it mate.

One more thing, being cured of cancer or not being cured has a LOT to do with the political climate in which we find ourselves, good climate....we live (at least have the best chance), bad climate.....we die, simple. Sadly my mother was in a bad climate.

here...It's bad enough hearing you have cancer....then having to fight the insurance company that you pay into every month pretty much puts everything over the top.  When I first got Dx'd, I chose an Oncologist who my company said was in the network...turned out he wasn't, and I was getting billed for 40% of the costs.  The company I work for went to bat for me...working with the insurance  company and the Dr. and got him a contract to work on me.  THEN, they not only got the contract but got the Oncologist to back date it from June 1 to April...the day I had my first chemo.  Thinking for the whole month of May that I might have to change Oncologists had my mind fried....I couldn't believe I had that much extra energy to stress out like I did.

Vent away....it's good for us!!!

p

ausrebel53 said:

Not being Political here

I'm only making a few observations here, there are good and bad in all systems. I believe I have the right to vent especially when I believe my mother died because of a bad part of a system I don't agree with (thought this was a free country and genuine opinions valued). I said I was happy and grateful to be here and be insured privately here even though the system is not perfect here as is the case ANYWHERE ELSE.

Being positive is certainly important, just as important as having the emotional freedom to vent from time to time. I am always happy to provide a shoulder as best I can, others have asked for understanding and now I do.

I have been put through the ringer on numerous occassions thanks to our insurance saying one thing then doing another, you weren't there when my wife burst into tears finding out just after being told I have cancer that our coverage could leave us in huge debt, they think, couldn't get a straight answer. I believe things are settling down now after much arguing with insurance and having to change chemo doc leaving me late to start treatment. So Douglas you tell me what I am not allowed to say here, love to hear it mate.

One more thing, being cured of cancer or not being cured has a LOT to do with the political climate in which we find ourselves, good climate....we live (at least have the best chance), bad climate.....we die, simple. Sadly my mother was in a bad climate.

thought that was pretty clever, actually.

I was referring to the 'sadly with obamacare' comment. that was a gratuitous political comment--and rather ironic, since the 'wallet biospy' is hardly a good endorsement of our current health care system.

I'm also pretty certain that most of the people criticizing health care in other countries have never actually had care under those systems... you are obviously an exception. I'm not familiar with Australia's system myself either. it could be crap for all I know. but just because one country may have a crap system doesn't mean that we are going there too. suggestions that we're gonna end up just like europe (or australia) are particularly silly.

freedom of speech is alive and well. I'm simply asking if we really want to go political. my opinion, it's a pity to divide us into red and blue state cancer survivors. but hey, I'm up for it if ya'll are. bring it on.

We are not on this site to battle over political issues, or to even try to correct things that go wrong financial wise. It doesn’t matter what color (political or whatever) we are, we are here because we have this f… disease in our system and we need advice from others that had more experience with it, or to share from our experience with others. Yes, we can express our opinions, but it would be useful to remain within a limited scope, always keeping in mind why we are all here. Even with some things said, so be it, nobody needs to feel offended or leave anywhere. Your experience is needed, if for not for other reasons. The rest is vanity. My two cents.