Thursday, May 28, 2009

is there anyplace to get help with bills from cancer treatment

is there anyplace to get help with bills from cancer treatment?
i owe 9 thousand that the insurance didn't cover, a collection agency is after 2 thousand of that right now. my wife just had to close her small business so we lost her income. i don't want to file bankruptcy. is there any help of any kind for cancer patients bills?
Cancer - 4 Answers
 

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1 :
Most hospitals and clinics offer a certain amount of "charity" or "financial hardship case" care if you fall into a low income category. Call and ask each provider if you can apply for it. The paperwork goes in front of the particular hospital or whatever's board to be determined. Unfortunately this happens to so many people - the costs of treating cancer can ruin you. At the very least, most collection agencies will settle for about 20% of what you owe if push comes to shove. Figure out how to pay it and move on. I admire you for not wanting to file bankruptcy. (Can your wife get any type of unemployment benefits?) Did you have any type of disability insurance that would help? Can you sell something to pay the bills? Best wishes.
2 :
You should talk with the hospital social workers. They know what services are available to help with the costs. Many hospitals will set up payment plans that are very reasonable. for example I paid 100 per month for several years to pay up my out of pocket expenses with a hospital.
3 :
Unfortunately, you would be better off if you were dirt poor. You could qualify for Medicaid or charity care. Since you have income and assets, you probably exceed the thresholds for assistance. Social worker or financial counselor is the best bet. The American Cancer Society can probably help wrangle that sort of support together for you. You should also be thrilled that your out of pocket cost is limited to only $9,000. Talk with the billing manager at the hospital / doctor's office about negotiating down the amount owed or setting up a payment plan. Since they've turned the account over to a collection agency, they may no longer have much of a stake in the matter, so this was better addressed earlier. Avoid bankrupty at all costs. It will be a long road to recover from that financially.
4 :
if you are low-income, you could apply for SSI from the goverment. They will take care of your medical bills. Best of Luck and Blessings, - J Blay



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Sunday, May 24, 2009

How much does it usually cost for cancer treatment in dogs? Approx 5k, 10k, 15k

How much does it usually cost for cancer treatment in dogs? Approx 5k, 10k, 15k?
I am purchasing vet insurance with cancer coverage but do not know a realistic amount of what cancer really cost.
Dogs - 4 Answers
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1 :
Call your vet and ask them, but I would assume it would depend on (1) breed of dog, (2) type of cancer, and (3) how advanced it is. My guess would be $5k maybe up to $10k, but call them and ask them for a range.
2 :
depends on what type of canser and the vets education.
3 :
It would really depend on the type of cancer and the type of treatment,how long the treatment would be for, etc. My cat went for chemo about 4 years ago for lymphoscarcoma of the stomach. Treatment cost about $4,500 in total. He was treated for about a year. $5,000 sounds like a reasonable amount to me.
4 :
If your dog really got cancer, would you want to subject him/her to miserable treatment? I'm not sure I would, and certainly not before I had a realistic assessment from the vet as to the chances of success. Sometimes it's kinder, but hard, to say goodbye, and let them go to a better place.



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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

What are the benefits of exercise as a treatment for cancer

What are the benefits of exercise as a treatment for cancer?
"Research indicates that the benefits of exercising as a treatment for cancer decreases body fight, increases lean muscle mass, decreases nausea and fatigue, improves natural defense mechanisms, improves sense of control, improves mood, self-esteem, and self reported improved quality of life." ^ Is this accurate info? If you have any other information for me, then please post it with the source. Its for my research paper.
Cancer - 2 Answers



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1 :
Well, by nature of what exercise is and does, we do know that it does indeed improve mood (endorphins). Exercise also by nature of what it is doing helps you have more energy. We also know that it does decrease body fat and increase muscle. Now, exercise is NOT going to cure cancer. But by the things that exercise does, it helps you keep moving and keep fighting. There are many statistics that almost prove that having a better mood and outlook will help you survive and heal after cancer. Also, exercise works your lungs, which will help from pnemonia setting in. It was always preached to me, if nothing else, get up and walk, as the breathing will help the lungs. I dont have a source outside my experince with cancer. I know that doesnt count for your paper, but... Just make sure you understand they are not saying exercise will cure cancer. They are saying exercise is an important part of the over all treatment, because it does the things it does.
2 :
Yes exercising the body software(internal organs) is a treatment for cancer without side effects. This is the free alternative to chemotherapy for cancer patients.Do it and you will know from the future test results.You can also do it alongside any medical treatment. Cancer hates oxygen and cannot live in a high-oxygen environment.If you want to supplement the medical treatment you receive(or not receive) with some alternative therapy then this is for you. You need to help your body to build up your immune system.The breathing exercises - pranayam is a holistic approach creating extra oxygen supply in the body and will slowly help with the health problem.Do the pranayam to see the benefits.Build up your timing slowly and after four weeks at the suggested maximum duration you will start to notice benefits gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy,stop and resume later. What is known: pranayam helps the body heal itself. How it works in the body is not known – but people may build their own theory. You have to do it yourself for your benefit. The small print: Keep doing pranayam after you are better for minimum 30 minutes a day for rest of life to maintain health. People who have been treated successfully, should do pranayam as well, as there is a chance of recurrence. The pranayam techniques: Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose.Duration upto 5 minutes. Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently. Anulom Vilom - Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril. This is one cycle of anulom vilom. Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day). You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed. Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee. Duration : 5 to 10 times Only by doing you will benefit and will feel good that you can do something to help the body.Copy and print this to improve your technique and stay focused.This is simplified pranayam for everyone and you do not have to go to classes to learn. This is for life, unlike short term classes where you do it in the class then stop when classes are over.



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Saturday, May 16, 2009

HELP! How do you great cancer treatment help in South Carolina for the uninsured

HELP! How do you great cancer treatment help in South Carolina for the uninsured?
A dear friend has no health insurance, precanerus cells were found, then tumors. Both she got treament for but now they say she needs another surgery she can't afford. She does'nt qualify for medicaid & the National Cancer Society has given her no options to persue. Her treating Doctor is dumbfounded. Please Help me help her!!
Cancer - 1 Answers
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1 :
Check out the City of Hope. Also www.clinicaltrials.org who treat her if she has the diagnosis from her Doctor if she fits into any clinical trials (which often work better than what's out there now).



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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

How is cobalt used in the treatment of cancer

How is cobalt used in the treatment of cancer?
I have a chemistry project and i chose cobalt as my element. in the project, we have to describe some of the important uses of our element. i have researched adn learned that cobalt-60 can be used in the treatment of cancer but could u please give me more info about this? do u have any good websites that could help me answer this question? no sarcastic or rude comments please cause this is for a grade. thanks!
Cancer - 2 Answers
 


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1 :
I did find two good sites for you. http://www.cna.ca/curriculum/cna_nuc_tech/cobalt60-eng.asp?bc=Cobalt-60+Therapy+Unit&pid=Cobalt-60+Therapy+Unit http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1953418/nuclear_medicine_and_cobalt_in_cancer.html
2 :
Cobalt-60 used to be used for external beam radiotherapy to treat cancer, but now there are being replaced by linear accelerators in modern radiation oncology departments. However, it is used in a different way in Gamma Knife which is being used as stereotactic radiosurgery. It is marketed by Elekta. It'll take too long to explain here, so please google the above terms. I think this will be very interesting for your project.



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Friday, May 8, 2009

I want to find out how many kids 18 and under are currently in cancer treatment in michigan. Can anyone help

I want to find out how many kids 18 and under are currently in cancer treatment in michigan. Can anyone help ?
I am starting a non profit for kids with cancer and need this information. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated. Need info ASAP. THANK YOU!
Cancer - 1 Answers
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1 :
You will find that accurate information about these statistics are difficult to impossible to obtain. Much depends on who is reporting and recording this information. We found that with rare and childhood cancers statistics by county and state remain flawed and not current. About the only childhood cancer that is tracted remains Leukemia . .which not surprisingly is the most common and the one that has the best chance for survival. Statistics kept for children and adolescents are not accurate. We found this out when they failed to record any of the information available about our son who died from sarcoma. We had to insist that the records be changed to record exactly the disease he passed away from . . so at least one record is correct (they just recorded he died from 'cancer' and never specified what it was). If you go by what Michigan statistics indicate . . they claim about 300 children are newly diagnosed in a year and about 52 die . . of course this does not account for how many children are currently in active treatment . . it could total up to a thousand. You can check with the NCI SEER Pediatric statistics . .they break some down by state . . however the statistics are dated. http://seer.cancer.gov/publications/childhood/ A good resource to contact for this type of information may be the Michigan chapter of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation: http://www.candlelightersofmichigan.org/



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Monday, May 4, 2009

How expensive can cancer treatment get

How expensive can cancer treatment get?
My wife is being advised to go on Nubogen to maintain her white blood cell count while on chemo for breast cancer. The cost will be $2200 per 10 day cycle. We have 5 cycles to go. It's like we've plummetted into a dark pharmaceutical hole. Any suggestions on what is next as far as medical bills? Are there generic drugs out there? Thanks, Vince
Cancer - 4 Answers
 

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1 :
Contact American Cancer Society. This link has a phone number and other information. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp?level=0 Hope it helps you, they helped us with my Mom.
2 :
Have you asked the doctor about Neulasta instead? According the the Amgen web site, "NEUPOGEN® requires 10 or 11 injections per chemotherapy cycle; Neulasta® calls for only one injection per cycle." Don't know if it's appropriate for your wife, but it can't hurt to simply ask the question. Sometimes doctors are oblivious to the cost factor. Good luck to you and your wife.
3 :
I passed 6 cycle of chemotherapy with no cost. In Serbia, there is a a medical insurance if you don't have work, so you will not pay chemo. If you work, your work medical insurance will cover it, or if you are retired, there is a medical insurance. So in any case you will not pay chemotherapy. There were stories about kids getting cancer in Serbia because of US bombings in 1999, as for the poor uranium in bombs. Maybe thats why I had it, ah? As my building was very close to the building that was bombed by US tomahawks (3 of them, didnt crashed the building, shame)., so we all must have been received some radiation from that. So, as for that aggressive politic of states in other countries, have you asked your self, how much money does the kids in IRAQ have to spend to cure their cancers? Neupogen or Neulasta is the medicine for side effects in chemo. Please monitor the count of Neutrophiles for your wife, as these white blood cells are defensors for the organism, the specific type of white blood cells that boost our immune system. I would recomend Neulasta (can be found in US) as for side effects (not from chemo but from the medicine). Neulasta will not giver you high fever after injection. Its a simple small injection that boost the movement of Neutrophiles (these pretty cell are defense). Also, Neulasta and Neupogen (I can not belive that they offered you Neupogen just because it is cheaper), can not make Neutrophiles (thats done inside of our bones), but just group that and make them move faster. If your blood count of neutrophiles goes under 1.0 please use a mask over a face, because of easy infections. You must use a mask inside of a room where is your wife, or any other visitors, untill the Neutrophiles goes back over 4.3. My mother was making me every day, a juice of dry yeast (two spoons), one small red root (I dont know the name in english, its like a sallad, dark red root from inside, and producing a lot of dark red juice, Beets), together with two carrots and one big apple. Its a minerals and Vitamins boost, thats good to have, one glass daily in a morning. Also, get Echinacea in pills, its a herb, for boosting the immune system. IMPORTANT TO HAVE ECHINACEA. Get Noni in the bottle, its expensive, but good. Try to consult with a friend doctor, one oncologist want listen to herb and vitamins story. As I had internet with laptop in a medical room al the time of the therapy I was, searching, buying on net all what I was thinking thats good for me. Better to eat stupid hospital food, and not receiving medical information that you need. Doctors just want ot go by the present procedure in cancer theraphy, and its a global, should be more individual approach. Use the search for specific type of cancer of the breast. Womans also can be very depressed when the hair goes off, so get a wig or pirate scarf for the head. I wen from Dominican Republic to Serbia to do chemo, had 6 months two scarfs on the head, Dominican flag, and Disney pink with mickey mouses. Dont let your wife feel sad, you must help her in these moments, when the patient feels desperate. 809 257 4445, Milos Korac Dont invent with generic drugs, listen to your doctor and follow the procedure, with a little help of our friends, vitamines
4 :
If you are talking about the drug Neupogen (Neulasta) then be aware that the manufacturer has a patient assistance program which might help pay part or all of the cost of your wife's drug costs. Whether you qualify would depend on your income and insurance status but if you are paying full price out of pocket I am guessing you would probably qualify for assistance. Here is the Amgen contact info for the Patient Assistance Program. good luck to you and your wife http://www.amgen.com/patients/assistance_neulasta_neupogen.html



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Friday, May 1, 2009

Can you refuse breast cancer treatment

Can you refuse breast cancer treatment?
I'm an author and I'm going to write a book about a woman who discovers herself and blah blah blah. The point is, she has breast cancer but she's going to refuse treatment. I was wondering if, in America, you can do that? And what would be excepted? Would you be able to do things or would you be bedridden?
Cancer - 4 Answers
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1 :
Yes you can refuse anything you want primarily because this is America. Cancer is a progressive disease so the symptoms get worse as the disease gets worse. The biggest problem with refusing breast cancer treatment is the unnecessary problems it causes you and those around you. The cancer will eventually break through the skin causing an ulcerated, oozing, unhealing, painful, bleeding area that enlarges over time and is so foul smelling you can smell it from 10-15 feet away.
2 :
You can refuse treatment pretty much everywhere. The exceptions might be the mentally ill or retarded. It is likely that her doctors would recommend counselling with a psychiatrist. The other responder had it about right, rot and stink. But before that she would be able to live normally for a time. Some cancers will spread to other organs before they do a skin break through. Bones are a common one with breast cancer - spine, hips and ribs are the most usual and crippling fractures may result - then the person would be disabled.
3 :
yes you can refuse treatment. some older people chose to live out their lives and never tell their families. chemo kills cancer cells but also kills your normal cells, so it boils down to survival of the fitest. who will survive, the cancer or you. some people believe that it's just their time and chose to do everything they want to experiece before they go , where as a chemo patient would be sick , weak, and basically fragile watching life go by in misery with the hopes that they live to see tomorrow.
4 :
I was wondering if, in America, you can do that? And what would be excepted? What would be accepted does not include the inaccurate use of simple words. To "except" something is to exclude it. To "accept" something is to include it.



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