colonoscopy help for syblings

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bigman4christ
bigman4christ Member Posts: 87
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hi All, i was wondering if any of you new were to go to get help for a coolonoscopy.  I have staget 4 and all the Dr. keep telling me to have my brother and sister checked out but the problem is that they are both out of work at the moment and have to insurance.  is there somekind of probono work that Dr. can do for people that are in there situation?  do you think just writing a letter to the Colonoscopy Dr. will help?  any suggestions?

Zach

Comments

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH CSN Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #2
    Rick's sisters are in the

    Rick's sisters are in the same boat, out of work and no insurance.  I doubt that you will be able to find such an altruistic doctor, but it doesn't hurt to ask YOUR doctor.  Good luck!

  • lilacbrroller
    lilacbrroller Member Posts: 412 Member
    #3
    cheaper tests

    Zach - I did some googling for you and found that the government aid for colonosopies is earmarked for low income folks aged 50 and over (not fair!)

    There are less expensive ways for them to be checked out.  A doctor, even a county/public health doctor  can do a fecal occult blood test, or a blood test to check for CEA levels.  Probaby not for free, but certainly at less cost than a colonoscopy. Or they can check out places like CVS drugstore (minute clinics) or WalMart where they can talk to a nurse practitioner who, if they have the time, can talk through symptoms with your siblings and advise them on how to have further tests done cheaply or for free.

    good luck

    Karin

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 CSN Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #4
    lilacbrroller said:

    cheaper tests

    Zach - I did some googling for you and found that the government aid for colonosopies is earmarked for low income folks aged 50 and over (not fair!)

    There are less expensive ways for them to be checked out.  A doctor, even a county/public health doctor  can do a fecal occult blood test, or a blood test to check for CEA levels.  Probaby not for free, but certainly at less cost than a colonoscopy. Or they can check out places like CVS drugstore (minute clinics) or WalMart where they can talk to a nurse practitioner who, if they have the time, can talk through symptoms with your siblings and advise them on how to have further tests done cheaply or for free.

    good luck

    Karin

    CVS

    I've been to Minute Clinic and found the practitioner to be very unattentive and never addressed my issue and it cost me $89.  Put it this way, I'd never trust another visit there, especially for advice on symptoms for something serious.  It's hard to get medical advice for free, but maybe a goverment subsidized facility could help out, the problem is trying to find one and the other is if you do, the wait times are terrible.

    Kim

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH CSN Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #5
    lilacbrroller said:

    cheaper tests

    Zach - I did some googling for you and found that the government aid for colonosopies is earmarked for low income folks aged 50 and over (not fair!)

    There are less expensive ways for them to be checked out.  A doctor, even a county/public health doctor  can do a fecal occult blood test, or a blood test to check for CEA levels.  Probaby not for free, but certainly at less cost than a colonoscopy. Or they can check out places like CVS drugstore (minute clinics) or WalMart where they can talk to a nurse practitioner who, if they have the time, can talk through symptoms with your siblings and advise them on how to have further tests done cheaply or for free.

    good luck

    Karin

    The one problem with a blood

    The one problem with a blood test is that CEA may not be a good marker, like in Rick's case - below 0.5. So if his sister's had cancer, they probably wouldn't have good CEA markers either.

    Take care,

    Cyn

  • bigman4christ
    bigman4christ Member Posts: 87
    #6
    lilacbrroller said:

    cheaper tests

    Zach - I did some googling for you and found that the government aid for colonosopies is earmarked for low income folks aged 50 and over (not fair!)

    There are less expensive ways for them to be checked out.  A doctor, even a county/public health doctor  can do a fecal occult blood test, or a blood test to check for CEA levels.  Probaby not for free, but certainly at less cost than a colonoscopy. Or they can check out places like CVS drugstore (minute clinics) or WalMart where they can talk to a nurse practitioner who, if they have the time, can talk through symptoms with your siblings and advise them on how to have further tests done cheaply or for free.

    good luck

    Karin

    thanks

    Thanks karin for the research, going to the "normal" Dr. and having them do those test and find something, they will just end up telling them to go get a colonoscopy anyway.  Oh well i guess it never hurts to ask my Dr. and explain the situation, the worst thing he can say is no.

    thanks zach

  • abrub
    abrub CSN Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #7
    They may have to wait until

    They may have to wait until the new health care laws guarantee (and help them) with coverage in 2014.

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