Gramsci wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 8:52 am

Frankie99 wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:07 am The insurance thing is just such a hassle, and is so illogical that explaining it makes understanding it harder. My wife sat crying in a ball when the insurance company covered her port (a little implant in your chest that makes chemo delivery easier) but then DENIED THE CHEMO.

She had cancer, she had the fucking chemo delivery device implanted in her chest, the cancer could be terminal with treatment, was definitely terminal without, and they were just like "naw. no treatment for you."

hours of phone trees later and a goddamn written letter from her doc on why she needed chemo or would die, then they finally approved it the next day.

Madness.

This is what blew me away when I was studying the US health system. The ability for an insurance company to just say “no” you’re paying for that. It the reason medical bills are the US’s number one reason for bankruptcy… it’s pure insanity. It must have a significant impact on the country’s growth and stability of every family’s other than the super wealthy.

twelvepoint wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 8:10 pm

Gramsci wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 8:52 am

Frankie99 wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:07 am The insurance thing is just such a hassle, and is so illogical that explaining it makes understanding it harder. My wife sat crying in a ball when the insurance company covered her port (a little implant in your chest that makes chemo delivery easier) but then DENIED THE CHEMO.

She had cancer, she had the fucking chemo delivery device implanted in her chest, the cancer could be terminal with treatment, was definitely terminal without, and they were just like "naw. no treatment for you."

hours of phone trees later and a goddamn written letter from her doc on why she needed chemo or would die, then they finally approved it the next day.

Madness.

This is what blew me away when I was studying the US health system. The ability for an insurance company to just say “no” you’re paying for that. It the reason medical bills are the US’s number one reason for bankruptcy… it’s pure insanity. It must have a significant impact on the country’s growth and stability of every family’s other than the super wealthy.

For our non US FMs: Good US health coverage where you don’t lose your house when you get cancer is called a “Cadillac” health plan. It’s insane.

twelvepoint wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 8:10 pm

Gramsci wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 8:52 am

Frankie99 wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:07 am The insurance thing is just such a hassle, and is so illogical that explaining it makes understanding it harder. My wife sat crying in a ball when the insurance company covered her port (a little implant in your chest that makes chemo delivery easier) but then DENIED THE CHEMO.

She had cancer, she had the fucking chemo delivery device implanted in her chest, the cancer could be terminal with treatment, was definitely terminal without, and they were just like "naw. no treatment for you."

hours of phone trees later and a goddamn written letter from her doc on why she needed chemo or would die, then they finally approved it the next day.

Madness.

This is what blew me away when I was studying the US health system. The ability for an insurance company to just say “no” you’re paying for that. It the reason medical bills are the US’s number one reason for bankruptcy… it’s pure insanity. It must have a significant impact on the country’s growth and stability of every family’s other than the super wealthy.

For our non US FMs: Good US health coverage where you don’t lose your house when you get cancer is called a “Cadillac” health plan. It’s insane.

Gramsci wrote: Wed Aug 21, 2024 7:39 am Okay. I just had the big post treatment review with my clinical team.

Clear. Like, actually clear.

There’s a tiny residual amount of disease but so low its margin of error stuff. I’ve also tolerated an extremely heavy treatment very well. A stem cell transplant can be an absolute nightmare in side effects and after treatment complications. I’ve had zero.

The other “good news” is the trial I’m on randomised me to the most advanced consolidation treatment. I’ll be receiving drugs right on the cutting edge of science that aren’t available to current standard treatment. This will deepen and lengthen my remission significantly.

I’d mostly been pretty good mentally but had started to dip a bit recently. After this it’s a huge relief.

Keep strong everyone else that has this in your lives. You have all of my -parasocial- compassion.

PASTA wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 8:11 am Today marks Thirteen years since my initial diagnosis. Recurrence or not the emotions are huge. Conflicting and contrasting.

OUT opening with MRI last night was a beautiful moment of fist pumping and small tears.

Godspeed y'all, be kind to yourselves, be kind to others