Guest guest Posted July 2, 2005 Report Share Posted July 2, 2005 Hi! I just mostly monitor postings now, I am just a hair over a year from my diagnosis. I went thru chemo, rad and surgeries and am doing ok. Mine was rectal cancer - T2N1, but downstaged after the rad/chemo. Having the usual issues getting the body back to regular after all that and I realize it will never be " normal " again. I recently had cT scan again - since my resect area is showing some " shadow " or inflammation - frankly they're not sure what it is. That's why your post caught my eye. My bloodwork, and the colonoscopy came back good so I wasn't expecting any bad news with the ct scan. Haven't yet talked with the surgeon who wanted to look at the films himself before talking with me. I'm fairly certain this is not a cancer return but found our similarities interesting. I was interested too in their comments about the balloon. I have not brought that up with my surgeon yet..and he hasn't either. I'm seven months out from the resect and it's been a long road. A year out is when they say that it will probably be like whatever it ends up being at that point. Most days I'm fine...others, well...let's just say I'm tired of things hurting and of worrying. Like you I am trying different doctors too. Some successul some not so. But I keep trying...and your post is an inspiration to keep doing so. I know I don't post much now..but I still keep tabs. Our communication with each other is probably one of the most valuable tools we have in this war. Wishing you well and good results. Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2005 Report Share Posted July 2, 2005 oh - and ps - I was diagnosed at age 42 ... and I recently did the AMC Relay for life and sent my first survivor photo to congressmen with comments that they need to work on getting folks scoped earlier than the standard age 50...there are just too many younger than that are getting CRC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2005 Report Share Posted July 2, 2005 oh - and ps - I was diagnosed at age 42 ... and I recently did the AMC Relay for life and sent my first survivor photo to congressmen with comments that they need to work on getting folks scoped earlier than the standard age 50...there are just too many younger than that are getting CRC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 In a message dated 8/8/2005 3:36:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, hilsshop@... writes: I wonder if the insurance companies have any idea how much money they would save just paying for colonosopy and not cancer!!!!! Hil I surely wish I understood their reasoning, Hil...just doesn't make sense unless they don't want to wipe it out!!! Maybe no one in their families has suffered ?? Maybe greed is even stronger than seeing someone, anyone suffer?? Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle Caregiver to Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 It's not colonoscopy that's not paid it is the virtual one. While virtual may be best it is not usually ordered since the medical community still sees regular colonoscopy as the gold standard. The more ordered the more likely it is to get paid. We are quick to blame insurance but if doctors don't order the procedure and/or provide reasons why it is no longer experimental they bare just as much to blame. Narice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 My doctor did one with no problem Regular not virtual though. My insurance will pay for age 40 and up but that only started this year With the big Cancer agencies still using 50 as the age to begin and primary care doctors seldom arguing this is more complex than some imagine. That's why we all need to keep writing all physicians, agencies, and insurance companies and demand better care. Narice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Aetna/US Health they covered mine anyway since my Paternal Grandfather died of colon cancer and some of my brothers and sisters and my Mom have had polyps. I was clean though and go back again in 2006 or 2007 2-3 years for a recheck. While we are on the subject how does testing work on the kids as far as preexisting condition etc. Is it better to do it on our policies or wait until they have their own? My brother was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor over 35 years ago and he still cannot get his own health insurance. Narice In a message dated 8/8/2005 4:45:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, psavary@... writes: What is your insurance company? Priscilla A. Savary Executive Director Colorectal Cancer Network PO Box 182, Kensington MD 20895 psavary@... www.colorectal-cancer.net _________ Screening for All. Colon Cancer for None. ____________ Like to help CCNetwork? Go shopping! Click here to join: http://www.iGive.com/CCNetwork Re: Insurance My doctor did one with no problem Regular not virtual though. My insurance will pay for age 40 and up but that only started this year With the big Cancer agencies still using 50 as the age to begin and primary care doctors seldom arguing this is more complex than some imagine. That's why we all need to keep writing all physicians, agencies, and insurance companies and demand better care. Narice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Almost forgot Whenever you file an insurance claim make sure you include information as to why the charge is MEDICALLY NECESSARY. This is especially important if other tests and treatments are considered the norm or if you are younger than the standard recommendations. If you can PROVE medical necessity your claim will almost always be paid. A little insurance stuff I learned from my Dad who used to manage and at one time WROTE the Postal Worker's Health Plan which was loosely based on Blue Cross and Shield (actually he HATED Blue Cross as he thought they were not looking out for patients but profit and he said that in the 70's!!) Narice In a message dated 8/8/2005 5:08:11 PM Eastern Standard Time, flipper759@... writes: Aetna/US Health they covered mine anyway since my Paternal Grandfather died of colon cancer and some of my brothers and sisters and my Mom have had Polyps. I was clean though and go back again in 2006 or 2007 2-3 years for a recheck. While we are on the subject how does testing work on the kids as far as preexisting condition etc. Is it better to do it on our policies or wait until they have their own? My brother was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor over 35 years ago and he still cannot get his own health insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Just an FYI. With the latest findings about colonoscopies, technically the virtual colonoscopy is now more accurate - according to the published findings in peer reviewed journals. Makes me crazy that they won't cover this fact. And makes me crazy that they want to call it experimental. Priscilla A. Savary Executive Director Colorectal Cancer Network PO Box 182, Kensington MD 20895 psavary@... www.colorectal-cancer.net _________ Screening for All. Colon Cancer for None. ____________ Like to help CCNetwork? Go shopping! Click here to join: http://www.iGive.com/CCNetwork Re: Insurance Hil, Mind if I ask how old you were when you were first diagnosed? The reason I ask is that your children should be tested AT LEAST 10yrs before you were first diagnosed, if your 36yrold daughters doc refuses to let her have one she needs to find a doc that will!!!!!!!! My husband is only 33yrs old and diagnosed passed Sept with Stage 4!!! Kick that doc for me will ya!! Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 I may have posted but can't remember. Not had chemo yet either:) Our local paper had a large 1/4 page ad advertising the Virtual Colonoscopy being given at our local hospital. It did say check with your insurance company. We only have two major ones here so somebody is covering them or the ad would not have been in. I had checked with my insurance a few months back and she told me they considered it experimental. A nurse from the insurance company did call me the other day as they have been notified I will be having surgery. She said she would call me back on the 18th to go over the surgery with me and answer any questions. I think I just did that Wed at the surgeons office:) Anyway I asked her if they covered virtual colonoscopy and she said she would find out and call me back. The message she left stated they would not cover them for me which is understandable. I was really trying to find out for a daughter. She explained that they already knew I had a striture and would require surgery so a virtual colonoscopy would be of no use for me. I just had long conversation with a friend last night explaining colonoscopies and why everyone should get them early and we could wipe colon cancer right out. I wonder if the insurance companies have any idea how much money they would save just paying for colonosopy and not cancer!!!!! Hil Re: Insurance Hil, Mind if I ask how old you were when you were first diagnosed? The reason I ask is that your children should be tested AT LEAST 10yrs before you were first diagnosed, if your 36yrold daughters doc refuses to let her have one she needs to find a doc that will!!!!!!!! My husband is only 33yrs old and diagnosed passed Sept with Stage 4!!! Kick that doc for me will ya!! Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 I may have posted but can't remember. Not had chemo yet either:) Our local paper had a large 1/4 page ad advertising the Virtual Colonoscopy being given at our local hospital. It did say check with your insurance company. We only have two major ones here so somebody is covering them or the ad would not have been in. I had checked with my insurance a few months back and she told me they considered it experimental. A nurse from the insurance company did call me the other day as they have been notified I will be having surgery. She said she would call me back on the 18th to go over the surgery with me and answer any questions. I think I just did that Wed at the surgeons office:) Anyway I asked her if they covered virtual colonoscopy and she said she would find out and call me back. The message she left stated they would not cover them for me which is understandable. I was really trying to find out for a daughter. She explained that they already knew I had a striture and would require surgery so a virtual colonoscopy would be of no use for me. I just had long conversation with a friend last night explaining colonoscopies and why everyone should get them early and we could wipe colon cancer right out. I wonder if the insurance companies have any idea how much money they would save just paying for colonosopy and not cancer!!!!! Hil Re: Insurance Hil, Mind if I ask how old you were when you were first diagnosed? The reason I ask is that your children should be tested AT LEAST 10yrs before you were first diagnosed, if your 36yrold daughters doc refuses to let her have one she needs to find a doc that will!!!!!!!! My husband is only 33yrs old and diagnosed passed Sept with Stage 4!!! Kick that doc for me will ya!! Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 My biggest gripe is they don't want to pay for a colonoscopy until you are 50 yrs old and since that is the standard now Dr's don't even suggest them until then if they do suggest one at all. For a lot of people that is to late. Also in talking to friends I am always preaching the colonoscopy and most have said it was to embarrassing and the virtual sounded better to them. Right now I have a 36 yr old daughter whose Dr refuses to refer her for one because of her age. My other daughters go to different Dr's and all of them under 50 had no trouble getting a referral for one. I know when my son in law's father died of colon cancer the Dr insisted even the teenage grandchildren have one. Here the Dr's have not been referring for one as they knew insurance would not pay for the Virtual. It sounds like things may be changing. Hil Re: Insurance It's not colonoscopy that's not paid it is the virtual one. While virtual may be best it is not usually ordered since the medical community still sees regular colonoscopy as the gold standard. The more ordered the more likely it is to get paid. We are quick to blame insurance but if doctors don't order the procedure and/or provide reasons why it is no longer experimental they bare just as much to blame. Narice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 My biggest gripe is they don't want to pay for a colonoscopy until you are 50 yrs old and since that is the standard now Dr's don't even suggest them until then if they do suggest one at all. For a lot of people that is to late. Also in talking to friends I am always preaching the colonoscopy and most have said it was to embarrassing and the virtual sounded better to them. Right now I have a 36 yr old daughter whose Dr refuses to refer her for one because of her age. My other daughters go to different Dr's and all of them under 50 had no trouble getting a referral for one. I know when my son in law's father died of colon cancer the Dr insisted even the teenage grandchildren have one. Here the Dr's have not been referring for one as they knew insurance would not pay for the Virtual. It sounds like things may be changing. Hil Re: Insurance It's not colonoscopy that's not paid it is the virtual one. While virtual may be best it is not usually ordered since the medical community still sees regular colonoscopy as the gold standard. The more ordered the more likely it is to get paid. We are quick to blame insurance but if doctors don't order the procedure and/or provide reasons why it is no longer experimental they bare just as much to blame. Narice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 What is your insurance company? Priscilla A. Savary Executive Director Colorectal Cancer Network PO Box 182, Kensington MD 20895 psavary@... www.colorectal-cancer.net _________ Screening for All. Colon Cancer for None. ____________ Like to help CCNetwork? Go shopping! Click here to join: http://www.iGive.com/CCNetwork Re: Insurance My doctor did one with no problem Regular not virtual though. My insurance will pay for age 40 and up but that only started this year With the big Cancer agencies still using 50 as the age to begin and primary care doctors seldom arguing this is more complex than some imagine. That's why we all need to keep writing all physicians, agencies, and insurance companies and demand better care. Narice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Call the Patient Advocacy Foundation and ask them. I really don't know. I wish it didn't matter but of course it does. Priscilla A. Savary Executive Director Colorectal Cancer Network PO Box 182, Kensington MD 20895 psavary@... www.colorectal-cancer.net _________ Screening for All. Colon Cancer for None. ____________ Like to help CCNetwork? Go shopping! Click here to join: http://www.iGive.com/CCNetwork Re: Insurance My doctor did one with no problem Regular not virtual though. My insurance will pay for age 40 and up but that only started this year With the big Cancer agencies still using 50 as the age to begin and primary care doctors seldom arguing this is more complex than some imagine. That's why we all need to keep writing all physicians, agencies, and insurance companies and demand better care. Narice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 I do hope you are right and times are changing. So much suffering and sadness could be avoided if the insurance would make it easier for people under 50 to get checked. Ingrid > My biggest gripe is they don't want to pay for a colonoscopy until you are 50 yrs old and since that is the standard now Dr's don't even suggest them until then if they do suggest one at all. For a lot of people that is to late. Also in talking to friends I am always preaching the colonoscopy and most have said it was to embarrassing and the virtual sounded better to them. Right now I have a 36 yr old daughter whose Dr refuses to refer her for one because of her age. My other daughters go to different Dr's and all of them under 50 had no trouble getting a referral for one. I know when my son in law's father died of colon cancer the Dr insisted even the teenage grandchildren have one. > Here the Dr's have not been referring for one as they knew insurance would not pay for the Virtual. It sounds like things may be changing. > > Hil > Re: Insurance > > > It's not colonoscopy that's not paid it is the virtual one. > While virtual may be best it is not usually ordered since the medical > community still sees regular colonoscopy as the gold standard. > > The more ordered the more likely it is to get paid. We are quick to blame > insurance but if doctors don't order the procedure and/or provide reasons why > it is no longer experimental they bare just as much to blame. > > Narice > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 I do hope you are right and times are changing. So much suffering and sadness could be avoided if the insurance would make it easier for people under 50 to get checked. Ingrid > My biggest gripe is they don't want to pay for a colonoscopy until you are 50 yrs old and since that is the standard now Dr's don't even suggest them until then if they do suggest one at all. For a lot of people that is to late. Also in talking to friends I am always preaching the colonoscopy and most have said it was to embarrassing and the virtual sounded better to them. Right now I have a 36 yr old daughter whose Dr refuses to refer her for one because of her age. My other daughters go to different Dr's and all of them under 50 had no trouble getting a referral for one. I know when my son in law's father died of colon cancer the Dr insisted even the teenage grandchildren have one. > Here the Dr's have not been referring for one as they knew insurance would not pay for the Virtual. It sounds like things may be changing. > > Hil > Re: Insurance > > > It's not colonoscopy that's not paid it is the virtual one. > While virtual may be best it is not usually ordered since the medical > community still sees regular colonoscopy as the gold standard. > > The more ordered the more likely it is to get paid. We are quick to blame > insurance but if doctors don't order the procedure and/or provide reasons why > it is no longer experimental they bare just as much to blame. > > Narice > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Hey, all, It has been months since I wrote anything the group. I have been busy - part-time job, -part- time watching my grandson. Here is my good news -- thank you group. You gave the the inspiration to continue on and pursue my loss of insurance. So many of your posts were on SSI disability etc, and I kept reading how you never gave up --(even hiring attorney's to pursue your cause.) I have been given four "no's" and last Thurs I got enough "yes" to receive my health insurance again. I know how my loss occurred - I forgot to meet a deadline. WOW- how many times I have read that in your emails to the group. I am so sorry I forgot. It seems to "forget" is an unhuman error and one must be punished forever. I have been punished over and over (four times to be exact). BUT finally, I have the "yes" I need. I feel such a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I am writing to say "Thank You" so much. Your emails have been read by me - I have felt at least with you, I am not alone. You, too, forget. You, too, have been punished for forgetting. You, too, feel the unfairness of this disease and what it does to our memory. Just wanted to let you know of a victory. I hope just one person continues on with their personal cause - and they too can someday claim a victory. Dot Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.