Worried about my sister in law

Hi, my name is Callie and I am worried about my sister in law Tanya. First of all I can tell you that they don't have a lot of income and -0- insurance. This has been a major deterant in her finding and getting care, much less less quality care. She was dx with colorectal cancer a few months ago. The physician went in and removed a large, what he called polyp and a couple of smaller ones, if I understand her correctly. The test taken directly before the surgery was benign but the pathology came back malignant,  and he said she was a stage 1-2 or 1 or 2. He couldnt get it all because it was so far into the lining of the colon he would have to go back and do a resection to remove part of the colon. He told them that they had to pay the remainer of his bill before he could do the surgery. Plus it took awhile because they had to come up with a good bit before the surgery. He knew they didn't have it. Finally she went to another Dr. who happens to know the first one. Together they would do the surgery for free but they would have to come up with the hospital costs. Okay well that was about 3,000 and of course they knew that they didnt have it. so after about 2 more months she went in through the ER and was admitted so they did the surgery. The morning before the surgery, riht before they explained that they would have to remove her tail bone to go in and then put it back. Well you dont want to hear what I think about that. She didnt have time to decide or anything...had it done. At first it was ok but they sent her home within 3 days $$$. Naturally she had to go back in for more surgery because he told her she had gotten constipated and some of the sutures had came loose and thats why feces was coming out of the drainage. This time they went in through the front, laproscopy I think. she has to wear a bag for about 30 days...well she was sent back home again only to return with drainage from somewhere else. I think they are going to kill her seriously because she is getting less than the standard of care.

I am so worried!!!!!!  Has anyone experienced this??

Callie 

I have never heard  a nightmare like that. First of all look at website devoted to her type of cancer. There are hundreds of support groups that offer not only emotional support but also financial. Your sister in law deserves better treatment than she has been receiving!! Fight for what you know is right. Don't give up or give in , you will find the right answer.

Good luck and God bless you and your sister in law

Teresa

Thank you, isnt it awful!  i told my brother he needed to get her out of there and to another ER asap!

anyway Ill check back in when I get more info

Callie

Callie,

Sorry to hear about Tanya's plight.  I assume she's an American and that this is an example of why you folks seriously need health care reform down there.  I'm a Canadian and while we do have problems with waiting lists for non-life treatening issues like, say, hip replacements, it has been my experience that this would never happen in Canada.  My brother needed an emergency heart operation and got it within days (not months as advertised on CNN).  My neighbour -- age 86 and on old age social security and with no money in the bank -- was given a similar operation within days.  Ditto for me, when I needed emergency surgery.  If you need a hip replacement, well... yes, we've got to wait.  How much did this cost us out of pocket -- lots in higher taxes, but at the time of the operation -- nothing.  We got the care and we got to keep our house and bank accounts too.  

My husband is an American.  He's faced similar issues with payment BEFORE surgery and oncology services are rendered.  Luckily, he has insurance, albeit a HMO -- but even with insurance and a very good, secure "government job," it's difficult to come up with copays. As a Canadian, this has been a real eyeopener for me -- that is, how lucky you Americans have it in that you have some of the best doctors in the world -- but unlucky, in that oftentimes the poor get passed over and unable to access these doctors .   In my husband's case, if I wasn't constantly on his HMO's case, he'd be in dire straights I'm sure.  Americans need advocates, unlike Canadians that just need doctors to stay at home in Canada (a lot of Canadian trained doctors head south where the gravey train is in the USA).  Then there was an elderly lady - a breast cancer survivor who needed shots to keep her blood up - and whose copay went from 100 dollars per shot to 500 dollars per shot.  The oncologist would not give her the shots until she came up with the $500 dollars.  Ouch!  Unable to pony-up the 500 dollars, she went home without the shots, and I suppose to die from whatever she needed the shots for?  (I'm unfamiliar with breast cancer or what the shots might be used for).  

In any case, get on your soapbox Americans.  I've lived in Canada, Britain and Australia (and now the USA) and the USA has a great system if you can afford it. You seriously need healthcare reform.  

Paula Jean

 HI CALLIE,

   So sorry to hear about your sister in laws plight, its terrible how she is being treated, can she not apply to Social Services for Medicaid.. Your brother in law really really needs to be proactive, My wife has stage 1V colon cancer and is on Medicaid and Medicare,,,,  when we applied to Family Social Services because its life threating disease they fast track it... check it out on internet... or call them . They take care of all hospital, drs etc fees...

I am  from Uk and my wife is american and I cant believe  how americans are treated here in states.... We in U.K do not have to worry about insurance, or bills of any sort... Its unreal how people are treated in  this country the richest country in the world...

Your sister in laws life is at stake here. so do not stay quiet if you are not happy with treatment you are getting find others who will give her best treatment.  Will be praying for you all... keep us informed of developments..... Best Wishes    Rob and Barb

On 7/11/2009 barbrob wrote:

 HI CALLIE,

   So sorry to hear about your sister in laws plight, its terrible how she is being treated, can she not apply to Social Services for Medicaid.. Your brother in law really really needs to be proactive, My wife has stage 1V colon cancer and is on Medicaid and Medicare,,,,  when we applied to Family Social Services because its life threating disease they fast track it... check it out on internet... or call them . They take care of all hospital, drs etc fees...

I am  from Uk and my wife is american and I cant believe  how americans are treated here in states.... We in U.K do not have to worry about insurance, or bills of any sort... Its unreal how people are treated in  this country the richest country in the world...

Your sister in laws life is at stake here. so do not stay quiet if you are not happy with treatment you are getting find others who will give her best treatment.  Will be praying for you all... keep us informed of developments..... Best Wishes    Rob and Barb

To Callie and Barb/Rob:

Nightmares such as this should not exist in this US of A!!!

I am fortunate to live near our county hospital and got the emergency surgery that I needed for colon c st 3, then referred to an oncologist that ultimately would not treat me without insurance.  Ended up in the emergency room at Parkland because the cancer was spreading, and am now into the chemo every 2 wks.  I have been sick and unable to work for the past year and a half, so NO insurance.  I have applied to Medicaid, haven't heard yet, so I am responsible for the copays: when I get it, they do.  Disability is going into effect soon, thank heavens.  I must say that after all is said and done, our medical doctors and hospitals here are toprated!   We do have an odd system of NOT working to get the best care, and we DO seriously need medical reform.

To Callie:  go to another doctor and/or ER immediately!!   Tanya is not getting the quality of care that is out there.  REMOVE her and do that before it is really TOO late.  Good luck and God bless you all.

Marie