Well I feel as if I have been trudging my way through a jungle. A jungle of red tape. My machete, is my computer. I have had to request the help of a paitent advocate. I've always known that fighting cancer would is tough, and I only thought that was on the physical side of it. Wow. Was I ever wrong!!
Not only is it physical, as the cancer is in my body, doing what it does. But, just trying to get in to see a specialist is proving to be a lot tougher than what it should be. Doors just don't seem to be opening as easily as I would like for them to.
I understand that doctors want to be paid. Well, of course they do!! I don't blame them and I would love to be able to throw money at them. But...I cannot. So, I've went down several avenues. I've applied for this program and that program, been turned down for one, one is still pending....I think I may have to sacrifice my first born for it to go through. Ok...so I am being a bit dramatic.
I contacted The Huntsman Cancer Institute, to see about seeing a specialist there. I was informed that I would have to have a PET Scan and a Brain MRI before the doctor would even see me. The PET Scan alone can cost up to $8,000. That took my breath away, so I haven't inquired about the Brain MRI cost, as I am breathless enough. So, as I don't have $8,000 at my disposal, I had to contact a patient advocate today. They took all of my information and somebody (an advocate maybe?) will contact me within 3 business days. Ok. I don't know what they will do, but at this point I hope they are wearing a spandex jumpsuit with a cape and will fly to my rescue. Am I being too dramatic? Probably. Oh well...I am what I am.
On the 26th, I go back to my thoracic surgical oncologist to discuss treatment options. I've had all of these weird words thrown at me, and they all sound really radioactive and I start thinking that maybe sometime in my near future I will glow in the dark.
I've learned more about Carcinoid Cancer and tumors than I had ever wanted to learn. I am now officially a "Lungoid". I've been called worse.
It shouldn't be this hard! I tried to get on with that new "pre-existing" coverage and found out that because I had had the lowest of the lowest medicaid coverage within the last 6 months, that I don't qualify. PCN wouldn't pay for anything. That's what I had most recently in the past. It is Utah's lowest form of Medicaid for the uninsured and uninsurable. So now I don't have PCN anymore...well as of the 31st of May. So what do I do? These are some of the things I have thought about doing:
1) Going to a busy street corner with a cardboard sign that says, "will work for cancer treatments". Then I would have to explain how out of breath I become because lovely tumor of mine likes to cut my oxygen flow down to low.
2) Write Oprah Winfrey. Oh Crap...she's quitting tomorrow. Too late...missed out.
3) Offer to sell my tumor to the highest bidder on Ebay....IF that person will help me get treatment to shrink the stupid thing.
See....I'm running out of ideas here. Oh well. I'll just keep making phone calls, filling out forms, sending my CT Scans all over the universe....keep cutting through this red tape. On way or another I'm gonna get this thing out of there!! OH...and one doctor won't even bill insurance, he demands $1,000.00 up front before he'll even shake your hand. Well...la dee da!! Won't be seeing that wacko!!
If you have health insurance....BE YE THANKFUL!! And...I will try not to covet your coverage.
*sigh*
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