Cost of Cancer

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009

    Brenda, I note your mention of Medicare. I paid for private health coverage (self employed) for 20 years. My last premium for major medical was $15,000 with a $5000 deductable. I worked on the theory that I could afford a broken arm but not a heart trasnplant or cancer treatment.

    I went on Medicare 2 years ago and have a good 3rd party B-D coverage, but one misconception that many folks have is that Medicare is FREE. It's not! Medicare takes $300+ of my Social Security check every month, plus my out of pocket B-D coverage of about $175.

     I was dx'd with bc in March '09. I recently got a statement from Medicare showing the total charges for the first TCH chemo session, $56,000 ONE SESSION (I'll have 6 sessions when I'm done). Two of the chemicals cost $15,000 EACH and another was $21,000!!!! Then there were all the additioinal blood work, doctor consult, port flush, yadda yadda included in the total, but I was just floored. $336,000.00 just for chemo and I haven't even done surgery or rads. 

    I'm glad I have some kind of insurance, but the cost are staggering.

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  • Brenda_R
    Brenda_R Member Posts: 509
    edited June 2009

    Medicare is not free, that's for sure. It's costing me about $100 out of my measly SSD check, that I really can not afford to lose, but I need the insurance. So now I have to figure how to get by with $100 less, and add to that the cost of  the part D prescription plan and higher co-pays on both.

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  • lemont
    lemont Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2009

    Leia, how can you assume that everyone with stage 1 bc who does anything except surgery is over-treating? My bc was stage 1 and my Oncotype score was 40. I had four surgeries (incl. bilat mast), chemo, and now an AI. Adjuvant treatment has been proven over and over to be beneficial in my case. I think I deserve a chance to see my sons finish school (their ages are 15 and 19) and maybe be a grandmother some day.

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  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited June 2009
    I have to agree with Lemont.  I was under the assumption that if you are Stage 1 with no nodes that you are 99% free and clear.  It was a surprise to see the number of women that jumped from that dx to stage 4.  Obviously the Stage 1 women are most likely to be free and clear (i.e., cured) but it just takes that one little cell that didn't get removed by surgery to wreak havoc.  Lemont is doing the wisest thing -- she's taking control of her health and doing everything necessary and prescribed by her oncologist to live to a ripe old age.  I applaud her!  You don't fool around with cancer or roll the dice, it's too risky.
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  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited June 2009

    One more thing -- it depends how your stage 1 cancer manifests itself.  My mom was stage 1 and only had radiation.  She's been a survivor for over 12 years and is a lovely, healthy 84 year old woman.  So, depending on your oncotype, and other indicators, how you deal with stage 1 (or any stage) can be very different for different women.  One size definitely doesn't fit all!  If you choose to not follow what your oncologist recommends, it's your right.  But if someone follows that advice, I personally think it is the wisest thing to do.  If you chose differently, I respect that, it's your body!  But to say it's a waste to do what someone thinks is the best for them is simply wrong.

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  • lemont
    lemont Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2009
    Thanks for the support konakat Smile 
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009

    Lemont  - you are the perfect example of how helpful oncotyping is.  Chemo will be a great benefit to you, and you are stage 1.  Absolutely you deserve to see your sons grow up, as I deserve to see my kids grow up! 

    You are also a great example of stage1 node negative cancer is not all the same.  My score was not as high (in the dreaded grey zone) and i have done well on chemo.

    Konakat - you are right, some women do great without chemo. A good friend of mine skipped chemo with an oncotype of 13.  I also agree that we are able to make our own decisions, and listen to our oncologists if we chose to!  If you disagree with your doc, get a second or third opinion.

    Good luck to you both and thank you for posting!

    April

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited November 2009

    Since this thread is about Health Care, I thought posters might find the following links useful.  The first is a summary of the House Bill and the second link is the entire bill.  Before you believe people with agendas tell you what is in the bill read it for yourselves. 

    Summary

    http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AHCAA-DETAILEDSUMMARY-102909.pdf

    Short comparisson between current House bill and previous one.

    http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AHCAA-SBSHR3200AHCAA-102909.pdf

    Full Bill

    http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

    Of course the Senate Bill has not reached the floor yet and health care may be completely stopped in its tracks by a filibuster.

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  • Sherri_V
    Sherri_V Member Posts: 159
    edited November 2009

    The invoice for my bone scan, CT scan and blood labs came in last week.  It was just over $11,000.  Insurance negotiated rates took off $2,000.  We do not have the cash to meet our deductibles but the local hospital is allowing us to make interest free payments.  Right about now, I sure wish we didn't have self-employment insurance!

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