Appendix cancer/ovarian cancer?

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  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    #22
    abrub said:

    MSK is in network
    My insurance plan (one of the United HealthCare plans) has a program "Cancer Resource Services" whereby they will actually pay your travel expenses to go to one of their designated Cancer Specialty Centers, of which Sloan Kettering is one. So although I travel, they pay for me and a caregiver to go, and cover everything completely. It's been amazing.

    I also have united

    I also have united healthcare...but my DH's company did not get the optional travel coverage for travel to one of the cancer centers of excellence.  When we called hr they told us to look into a supplemental policy like Aflac.  Who the hell is going to insure me now!  So, we have had to make the decision for now to just seek out an appendix cancer specialist that we can get to fairly locally.  We are in VA...so we are going to try dr Alexander in Baltimore.  I would also like to get to dr Sardi in Baltimore...but he is not part of their center off excellence.  And the closest dr...dr Sugarbaker is of course out of network...I don't know if we can do a single service contract.

    We just don't have several thousands of dollars lying around to travel across the country to get other opinions.

    alex

  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    #23
    Maxiecat said:

    I also have united

    I also have united healthcare...but my DH's company did not get the optional travel coverage for travel to one of the cancer centers of excellence.  When we called hr they told us to look into a supplemental policy like Aflac.  Who the hell is going to insure me now!  So, we have had to make the decision for now to just seek out an appendix cancer specialist that we can get to fairly locally.  We are in VA...so we are going to try dr Alexander in Baltimore.  I would also like to get to dr Sardi in Baltimore...but he is not part of their center off excellence.  And the closest dr...dr Sugarbaker is of course out of network...I don't know if we can do a single service contract.

    We just don't have several thousands of dollars lying around to travel across the country to get other opinions.

    alex

    Forgot to add...check with

    Forgot to add...check with your insurance co to verify that the travel portion is covered.  Don't just assume that because they covered it for one person that they will cover it for you.  Once we get the opinion from dr Alexander we are going to probably see one of the other specialists.  We will check to see what is and is not covered so that there are no surprises when the bills start rolling in.   With the UHC cancer centers of excellence...if you use one...everything is covered (except for the travel portion for me) if we use another facility some things like the actual surgery might not be covered or might be covered as out of network...which would mean that we would be responsible for part of the bill.

     

    be sure to not only check out your specialist ...but also the impact that it will have on your family's finances.

     

    alex

  • mtnmamma
    mtnmamma Member Posts: 4 Member
    #24
    Sabradee said:

    appendiceal cancer

    I am glad to know all turned out well for you Ruffy. I am 51 and after going to the ER for Appendicitis I found out I had a 10cm mass on rt ovary, and shadow or lesions on my liver. I had surgery with a gyn/oncologist yesterday who quickly found out it was a mucinous appendiceal cancer that had encapsulated my ovary. They removed both ovaries, tubes and appendix which was cancerous. They found pepper spots on my abdominal lining and a couple small burn like marks on my liver. They called in a GI oncologist who told them not to take anything else out at this point. He said they rather do chemo treatments first and then go back to take the margin of large intestine and do the perineal wash to get the cells left in the abdomen.  They did how ever biopsy the liver. My appointment with GI oncologist and surgeon is wed Apr.24 to find out staging/path reports and treatment schedule. I can't find any info offering hope or a good prognosis for this type of cancer. I feel like i'm in a hole and not matter where I turn there is no rope to pull myself up. It is like a roller coaster ride. A little hope, bad news etc. Can anyone share personal knowledge or reports offering any good or uplifting information. I'm tired of just reading the negative. Thanks so much for any sharing!!!

    SabraDee

    Ovarian cancer 3c in 2012

    I was shocked when I found out my oncologist did not take out my appendix.  He said' it did not have cancer on it"  I'm BRCA 1+ and had a PBM, breast removed and wondering If i should have my appendix out,  What do you all think? 

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #25
    mtnmamma said:

    Ovarian cancer 3c in 2012

    I was shocked when I found out my oncologist did not take out my appendix.  He said' it did not have cancer on it"  I'm BRCA 1+ and had a PBM, breast removed and wondering If i should have my appendix out,  What do you all think? 

    If they are certain it was ovarian cancer

    then your appendix is not an issue.  Were the bloods indicative of ovarian cancer?  If CEA was elevated, then appendix should have been removed.  Most cases of ovarian cancer are just that.  However, with the rarity of appendix cancer, ofttimes it is mis-diagnosed as ovarian cancer.  My tumor was on my ovary, but the pathologist recognized it as appendiceal in origin.  If in doubt, have another pathologist review your samples.

    Alice

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