VETERANS attn please

The1percen
The1percen Member Posts: 135
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello all,
I have posted an earlier description of my situation. The VA seems to be dragging their heels and I am going insane with the anxiety of doing nothing. Can anyone tell me what to expect from them, what the normal turn around time is before they even start testing? Should I go "outside the system" for help? At least I no longer feel alone! Thank you,
Mike

Comments

  • Jadie
    Jadie Member Posts: 723
    #2
    Veterans wife
    Hi Mike, I had to back up and read your other post. Somehow I missed it. Sorry to hear about all your troubles.

    My husband dosen't have cancer but he has (agent orange related)
    diabetes and other health issues. He has been going to the VA for several years. I do believe that they have good doctors there. They do seem a little slow at times but I think that they are thorough.We live in east TN. I personally like the care my husband has had.

    You might call the nurses triage and tell them that you are anxious, don't like the waiting and see if they can get things moving for you. The squeeky wheel gets the oil.

    Hope this helps a little bit. Let us know.
    Jadie
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    #3
    I am a Vet
    The Va has done a wonderful job in my care, you will find that they are very supportive and that they will do all they can for you. I read you earlier post, and I must tell you that jumping to conclusions will just make things worse. There are a ton of tests that the VA will do. It takes time for all the films and such to be read. You did not state when you had your mammogram so it makes it difficult to even say if the VA is going slow or not. More information would be helpful.
    My best to you
    Tjhay
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #4
    Jadie said:

    Veterans wife
    Hi Mike, I had to back up and read your other post. Somehow I missed it. Sorry to hear about all your troubles.

    My husband dosen't have cancer but he has (agent orange related)
    diabetes and other health issues. He has been going to the VA for several years. I do believe that they have good doctors there. They do seem a little slow at times but I think that they are thorough.We live in east TN. I personally like the care my husband has had.

    You might call the nurses triage and tell them that you are anxious, don't like the waiting and see if they can get things moving for you. The squeeky wheel gets the oil.

    Hope this helps a little bit. Let us know.
    Jadie

    Veterans Wife
    Mike my husband is a Nam vet. He also like Jadie husband has no Cancer but has Agent Orange related Diabetes and other factors. His care is really good. Not always fast, depends on what your there for. What they have done for my husband is very good care.I would contact the hospital you are dealing with and ask for patient services. We are from chicago area.Sometimes you just have to keep after them. Good Luck
  • The1percen
    The1percen Member Posts: 135
    #5
    what else could it be???
    I have not had my mammogram yet... I haven't got an appoiintment yet. When I wrote this morning I didn't even have an appointment with a surgeon. That changed this afternoon, BUT NOT UNTIL JUNE 30th! The larger of the "lumps" are running sideways all the way to the Lymphnodes. The lumps that are right on the breast are about the size of a AA battery then they get smaller but I can trace them all the way to my armpits and then there are lumps the size of pencil eracers all over the place... on the left side I can follow them all the way to the top of arm (by the upper shoulder) I also have lumps about the size of watermellon seeds in my groin region on both sides. ON my breasts thre are smaller lumps the size of BBs all over and even on top of the large lumps; these go all the way across the chest. I have felt the larger lumps for going on the better part of a year and ½. I never felt the Lymph one until recently. I also have what I can only term as a "tender" area on the surface of the left side. That was what alerted me to going to the doctor. As I said, there is Cancer from my Dad who has PC and a sister who had one breast mastectomy when she was in her ealy 20s!!! I have ruled out several of the "obvious" other possible reason for this and in some of the pictures (not drawings)I found of BC the tumors look like these feel.
  • jgridley
    jgridley Member Posts: 169
    #6
    vets attenton please
    Mike, I am so sorry I can't be of any help...my father-in-law deals with the veterans hospital..he says they are slow, but has fantastic docs... some great advice I got here was, You are your best advocate so call someone and talk to them tell them how you feel.

    Julie
  • Jadie
    Jadie Member Posts: 723
    #7
    The1percen said:

    what else could it be???
    I have not had my mammogram yet... I haven't got an appoiintment yet. When I wrote this morning I didn't even have an appointment with a surgeon. That changed this afternoon, BUT NOT UNTIL JUNE 30th! The larger of the "lumps" are running sideways all the way to the Lymphnodes. The lumps that are right on the breast are about the size of a AA battery then they get smaller but I can trace them all the way to my armpits and then there are lumps the size of pencil eracers all over the place... on the left side I can follow them all the way to the top of arm (by the upper shoulder) I also have lumps about the size of watermellon seeds in my groin region on both sides. ON my breasts thre are smaller lumps the size of BBs all over and even on top of the large lumps; these go all the way across the chest. I have felt the larger lumps for going on the better part of a year and ½. I never felt the Lymph one until recently. I also have what I can only term as a "tender" area on the surface of the left side. That was what alerted me to going to the doctor. As I said, there is Cancer from my Dad who has PC and a sister who had one breast mastectomy when she was in her ealy 20s!!! I have ruled out several of the "obvious" other possible reason for this and in some of the pictures (not drawings)I found of BC the tumors look like these feel.

    It could be..................
    something as simple as benign fatty tumors. Waiting is so hard. Did you tell them your problem when you made your appointment? If you didn't you might call back and tell them and see if you can get in sooner.
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    #8
    The1percen said:

    what else could it be???
    I have not had my mammogram yet... I haven't got an appoiintment yet. When I wrote this morning I didn't even have an appointment with a surgeon. That changed this afternoon, BUT NOT UNTIL JUNE 30th! The larger of the "lumps" are running sideways all the way to the Lymphnodes. The lumps that are right on the breast are about the size of a AA battery then they get smaller but I can trace them all the way to my armpits and then there are lumps the size of pencil eracers all over the place... on the left side I can follow them all the way to the top of arm (by the upper shoulder) I also have lumps about the size of watermellon seeds in my groin region on both sides. ON my breasts thre are smaller lumps the size of BBs all over and even on top of the large lumps; these go all the way across the chest. I have felt the larger lumps for going on the better part of a year and ½. I never felt the Lymph one until recently. I also have what I can only term as a "tender" area on the surface of the left side. That was what alerted me to going to the doctor. As I said, there is Cancer from my Dad who has PC and a sister who had one breast mastectomy when she was in her ealy 20s!!! I have ruled out several of the "obvious" other possible reason for this and in some of the pictures (not drawings)I found of BC the tumors look like these feel.

    I am a Vet
    Mike, This will seem like it is taking forever, but it is not. I understand you nervousness, and it is totally acceptable. The VA does move a bit slow but that is because there are so many honorable men and women that they are caring for. The Doctors and Nurses are wonderful people that will give you the best care you can get. Trust me when I say that the whole thing will feel like it is moving slow, and then suddenly it will be over and you will wonder what happened to the time. If you feel that you need to get in to the doctor faster, call the patient advocate to see if they can help you get in faster.
    Also you should know that depending on the money that you made last year will depend on the cost of the service you will receive, it will still be very inexpensive considering the cost of civilian care, and you may even qualify for travel money.
    This may not sound like much but the VA does try to help in every way they can.
    I wish you the best of luck
    please keep us informed
    Tj
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #9
    tjhay said:

    I am a Vet
    Mike, This will seem like it is taking forever, but it is not. I understand you nervousness, and it is totally acceptable. The VA does move a bit slow but that is because there are so many honorable men and women that they are caring for. The Doctors and Nurses are wonderful people that will give you the best care you can get. Trust me when I say that the whole thing will feel like it is moving slow, and then suddenly it will be over and you will wonder what happened to the time. If you feel that you need to get in to the doctor faster, call the patient advocate to see if they can help you get in faster.
    Also you should know that depending on the money that you made last year will depend on the cost of the service you will receive, it will still be very inexpensive considering the cost of civilian care, and you may even qualify for travel money.
    This may not sound like much but the VA does try to help in every way they can.
    I wish you the best of luck
    please keep us informed
    Tj

    tjhay is right, let me add
    tjhay is right, let me add that if there is a cost to you, they will except all insurance if you have any.

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