By the time this year is out...

stevenpepe
stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I would have endured...

5 biopsies

2 surgeries

4 CT scans

4 PET scans

2 MRIs

All this for a stage 1 tumor on my tongue. Does this seem excessive?

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    edited November 2016 #2
    i hear you

    Steven,

    And:

    50+  H&N members (friends)

    100’s of suggestions

    Support, support, support!

    You  would think treatment intensity would be directly related to the stage, but sometimes it is not.

    I hope you have good fortune moving forward.

    Matt

  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #3
    no room for excessive

    Nothing is excessive that's saving your life, except mucus, mucus is excessive, yuck!, I wish, 5 years out, my oncologist would do a pet scan, just for my piece of mind, but, no, my insurance doesn't want to pay...there's another excessive, excessive involvment of insurance companies in medical issues, yuck! Good luck and take care, we're watching you

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    MRI & PET and more

    Not bad for your first go around, if you add it all up in just being scanned just a little over $112,000.00 You doctor must really love you.

     

    Tim

     

  • Tonita
    Tonita Member Posts: 197 Member
    #5
    I had a tumor removed from my

    I had a tumor removed from my tongue and 42 lymph nodes with no further treatment.  Seems like we are at opposite extremes.

  • stevenpepe
    stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
    edited November 2016 #6
    Hondo said:

    MRI & PET and more

    Not bad for your first go around, if you add it all up in just being scanned just a little over $112,000.00 You doctor must really love you.

     

    Tim

     

    That's what I'm thinking.

    That's what I'm thinking. Every time I turn around, another scan. I have to think they are necessary and not some scheme to nail my insurance. My claims will reach $350k by years end.

  • caregiver wife
    caregiver wife Member Posts: 234
    edited November 2016 #7
    We all know everyone's case

    We all know everyone's case is different.  The thing in your message that stands out to me is 5 biopsies. Seperate instances?  Secondly, my husband's situation is quite different than your's, but his onc has been doing regular scans to track his treatment.

    Our level of knowledge changes quickly.  As we learn more, don't be afraid to ask questions.  Some patients want more information than others.  I remember quite vividly a confrontation with husband's rad onc when treatment and comments from staff did not match up with what he was telling us.

    Thirdly, if insurance is paying, they are probably asking for justification for all these scans.

    Finally, don't these different types of scans show different things??  My knowledge about what scan is used when is about zilch.

    Wishing you the best

  • MemphisTn
    MemphisTn Member Posts: 41
    #8
    Maybe...

    ...a little heavy on the CT scans, depending on what the onc (assuming your onc ordered all these diagnostic exams) was looking to see. You always have the right to ask if they are necessary and if there is a non-radiation (mri or us (ultra sound)) exam that can be used instead. As for the biopsies, thats part of the diagnostic phase, glad you have a team willing to go the distance for you.

    Much love -PC

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