Postcard from Duderstadt Germany Goodnews CEA down to 2.9 ca199 down to 24 ITS SPRING AND ITS BEAUTI

k44454445 said:

Pete

i am so happy for you! i miss reading your posts but i understand why you do not post often. you do need to focus on yourself to keep having positive results. enjoy the time with your family. and do enjoy the wonderful spring!

lots of hugs & prayers from indiana

judy

smiling face!  Good to hear you are doing well!  I was wondering where you were and how you were doing.

Keep on keeping on, Pete!

Angela

PhillieG said:

I'm Sorry to hear that

Medical costs are out of control. Thankfully I have insurance. I do not have $195,000+ though. If one has the personal resources and can just up and go (with or without their family), more power to them. Unfortunately, that's usually not the case...

just replying...

that these costs are prohibitively high.  It's not quite so simple as saying you're a "friend" of Pete's.  I'm assuming you still have to have the $200,000 (and counting) to cover the care.  You can easily rack that up with conventional care (I think I'm personally at about half a mil due to all the surgeries), but many of us have insurance to help take the hit.  Just not insurance that will cover this.  Too bad, maybe...

manwithnoname said:

H i Ann

200k is beyond most people in the world, although I think more than half of that has been Pete having 'extras', still private medicine is beyond most peoples finances. 

I know Pete posting his treatment, and especially the cost, is upsetting some people and it's completley understandable, money is a touchy subject anyway, even more so in this type of case, we are also paying for unproven immunotherapy and it's a tough desicion to sell all of your assets on a 'maybe' it is a gamble and just like going to Vegas you need a personal limit, Im not sure I would bet our house on a 'maybe', life still goes on.

It's a sad fact that having more money can buy better treatment (sometimes) we are looking at a possible surgery option in the US not available here, one night hospital stay is $15,000 + surgery costs, flights, MRI's, living expenses etc.., don't think our insurance will cover it.

Cancer sucks...

 

The big thing is how you minimize your costs and maximize your benefits.  There are often multiple ways of doing something.  A different provider, a different country, a different version, or a different technology.  People are defeating themselves when they start thinking, "I'm broke" or "Pete's wealthy".  Take responsibility for the situation, pay attention to the information on the boards, and go bargain hunting.     

Pete's blown a ton of money starting from scratch, trying on different treatments, brand shopping, and panic buying. The next person can start from there, and try to manage their costs. Perhaps for a third.   

The #1 cheap chance for any newbie is the initial dx period to get the things we talk about here, much cheaper.   Some extra blood tests, maybe some tissue testing, and then the extra goodies.  Cimetidine, celebrex, metformin, high dose vitamin D3, the LEF type supplement recommendations, etc from the cheapest place they can find. IMO this is probably/often their best chance at a good start for small price.   

Several of us have taken the the big chances, and we've told our stories.  At some point people have to read up, decide for themselves, and take action.      

tanstaafl said:

bargain shopping

The big thing is how you minimize your costs and maximize your benefits.  There are often multiple ways of doing something.  A different provider, a different country, a different version, or a different technology.  People are defeating themselves when they start thinking, "I'm broke" or "Pete's wealthy".  Take responsibility for the situation, pay attention to the information on the boards, and go bargain hunting.     

Pete's blown a ton of money starting from scratch, trying on different treatments, brand shopping, and panic buying. The next person can start from there, and try to manage their costs. Perhaps for a third.   

The #1 cheap chance for any newbie is the initial dx period to get the things we talk about here, much cheaper.   Some extra blood tests, maybe some tissue testing, and then the extra goodies.  Cimetidine, celebrex, metformin, high dose vitamin D3, the LEF type supplement recommendations, etc from the cheapest place they can find. IMO this is probably/often their best chance at a good start for small price.   

Several of us have taken the the big chances, and we've told our stories.  At some point people have to read up, decide for themselves, and take action.      

 

 

One can try "A different provider, a different country, a different version, or a different technology" but unfortunatly at the end of the day, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

Maybe if I had unlimited resources at the start of my cancer I might have tried something different but I was no where close to being in that situation. Thankfully I hooked up with a great team and have had great results. But even that is no guarantee. I've known people who went to the same doctors and did not have similar results.

I almost feel like this topic can quickly be over-simplified like gun control, politics, or religion. Cancer is extremely complex and therefore the "fix" is unique to the individual. As I've said countless times, there's no One Size Fits All so to take one person's journey and try to make it fit everyone is absurd.

I should have followed my instincts and ignored the thread. There is ONE thing I believe we all can agree on and that is that CANCER SUCKS and that everyone has success with whatever of the many treatment roads that are out there...

manwithnoname said:

H i Ann

200k is beyond most people in the world, although I think more than half of that has been Pete having 'extras', still private medicine is beyond most peoples finances. 

I know Pete posting his treatment, and especially the cost, is upsetting some people and it's completley understandable, money is a touchy subject anyway, even more so in this type of case, we are also paying for unproven immunotherapy and it's a tough desicion to sell all of your assets on a 'maybe' it is a gamble and just like going to Vegas you need a personal limit, Im not sure I would bet our house on a 'maybe', life still goes on.

It's a sad fact that having more money can buy better treatment (sometimes) we are looking at a possible surgery option in the US not available here, one night hospital stay is $15,000 + surgery costs, flights, MRI's, living expenses etc.., don't think our insurance will cover it.

Cancer sucks...

 

I'd sell everything I had, including my body parts, to give him a chance.  I admire you, Tony, for everything you're trying to do for your son.  And if I was queen of the universe, I would make it so that everyone could try any treatment they wanted, without regard to cost. Cancer sucks, and the cost of treating it, whether here in the States or in Germany, sucks as well.

ETA this is to Tony, and the comment he made earlier in the thread.  Confusing...

manwithnoname said:

H i Ann

200k is beyond most people in the world, although I think more than half of that has been Pete having 'extras', still private medicine is beyond most peoples finances. 

I know Pete posting his treatment, and especially the cost, is upsetting some people and it's completley understandable, money is a touchy subject anyway, even more so in this type of case, we are also paying for unproven immunotherapy and it's a tough desicion to sell all of your assets on a 'maybe' it is a gamble and just like going to Vegas you need a personal limit, Im not sure I would bet our house on a 'maybe', life still goes on.

It's a sad fact that having more money can buy better treatment (sometimes) we are looking at a possible surgery option in the US not available here, one night hospital stay is $15,000 + surgery costs, flights, MRI's, living expenses etc.., don't think our insurance will cover it.

Cancer sucks...

 

Would the us hospital/drs be willing to wave the bill?  I know there are some situations where they will help with no charge to the family.  I hope your son will be able to have surgery if that will help him.  I wish you well. Lori