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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / September 2003ANYONE in San Antonio, Tx or close to it ????
Hello everyone, I HATE asking for help from anyone but I am at my wit's end right now. I have contacted, without success all orgs and sites I can find or have been recommended. I need to start ASAP on the IMRT. The doctor I saw was in disbelief that I was self-referred and no medical person had ever suggested I do radiation of any sort. I cannot afford to stay in a hotel from Monday night to Friday morning for the 7 weeks or so it will take to do the IMRT at the UT Cancer Center there. Is there anyone in the group who is in, or close to, SA that would be willing to put up with an old fart for that time period? I am on Social Security Disability and can't even afford to eat right - I'm living on beans & rice without many veggies which I love. If there is anyone close to the Center willing to do this please contact me at jjoy at ( ignore this in parentheses ) austin.rr.com I would be extremely grateful for any assistance. Thank you so very, very much. Jim (AKA BillyBob, but only to newsgroups!) jjoy_DONT_USE_THIS_PART@austin_DONT_USE_THIS_PART.rr.com Pre-op. PSA: 5.1 Biopsy 1-3-2001: 3+3=6, only 10% difused cells, left side only RRP: 3-12-01 20% difused cells, 20% capsular penetration, neg lymph & Sem. ves. Erection - 6 weeks and earier; 6wk; first decent one PSA's - .5,1.1,.5,.3,.4,.7,.7,.7,.6,.7,.7.,.9 NO ONE, not even my med school Pathology Prof. Step-Sister EVER said "radiation" - "Wait until it gets to 2.0" (Last - Quote of urologist who did RRP!) Can't beat that deal at ANY price! AND I have a 30 year old car with only 26,000 miles on it that a little old lady only used to drive to church on Sundays. Want to buy that as well? Hi Jim...... I started to write last night about help for you, but forgot that in the US you have to pay for treatment........but what about the American Cancer Society??? Up here, the Cancer Society provides all sorts of assistance from transportation to reduced rate accommodations for cancer victims. The Princess Margaret Lodge in Toronto, for instance, is $70/week for room, transport to the hospital and back and 3 meals a day........surely there must be something they can do. We have so much that is available to us both from the Cdn. Cancer Society and the cancer hospitals. I feel so badly for you......but keep on fighting and looking. I find it so hard to believe that your medical system is letting you down this way.....there has to be an answer. Can anyone else think of any organization that can help??? I don't know how your system operates. Wishing you all the luck in the world.......Heather > Hello everyone, > [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > 26,000 miles on it that a little old lady only used to drive to church on > Sundays. Want to buy that as well? >Subject: Re: ANYONE in San Antonio, Tx or close to it ???? >From: "Heather" fergie@nospam.com [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > >Wishing you all the luck in the world.......Heather Social Security Disability benefits are about $ 1200 a month, plus puts you on Medicare which pays part of the cost of approved services. There are charity services that provide housing for us. Jim will go a bit into debt. The hospital should be able to refer him. Thanks Danny.......it seemed incredible in this day and age that there was no sort of assistance out there........but I don't know all that much about your medicare setup. Cheers.....Heather > >Subject: Re: ANYONE in San Antonio, Tx or close to it ???? > >From: "Heather" fergie@nospam.com [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > services that provide housing for us. Jim will go a bit into debt. The > hospital should be able to refer him. What about the Social Services Department at the hospital where you are going for treatment? They should have resources available. The nurse that took care of me when I had the RRP was from England. She was "imported" to work as long as she would stay, and the hospital paid for her apartment. If they can do that they should have resources to help patients and family of patients. Also, what about churches in the area? That may be worth a shot to see if they have some good Christian soul that would offer you a place to stay for that long. It does really suck that in "the richest and most powerful nation on earth" someone has to go through this kind of thing to get medical care. Shame on us. Best of luck to you Jim. In all seriousness, you may want to consider writing a book about your life. The shitty state of healthcare in the USA is becoming a political issue again, so the topic is timely. Maybe you can put your trials to good use to make a difference in how medical care is delivered in this country. God bless you. David S. > Thanks Danny.......it seemed incredible in this day and age that there > was no sort of assistance out there........but I don't know all that [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > The > > hospital should be able to refer him. > Social Security Disability benefits are about $ 1200 a month, plus puts you on > Medicare which pays part of the cost of approved services. There are charity > services that provide housing for us. Jim will go a bit into debt. The > hospital should be able to refer him. Hi Danny, Does this mean you are helping Jim behind the scenes? If so, thank you. J > I HATE asking for help from anyone but I am at my wit's end right now. > I have contacted, without success all orgs and sites I can find or > have been recommended. I need to start ASAP on the IMRT. The doctor I > saw was in disbelief that I was self-referred and no medical person > had ever suggested I do radiation of any sort. I'm disaappointed to hear that. Did you explain the situation to them? and the local ACS or NCI couldn't be of help either? · The American Cancer Society (ACS) sponsors Hope Lodges, which provide free lodging for those who travel to receive cancer care. Check your local phone book, or visit their web site at http://www.cancer.org/frames.html The National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, will, in some cases, help pay for the travel and lodging expenses of those being treated at the NCI. Call 1-800-4-CANCER. Is the treating doctor outside these ? The first 2 are San Antonio http://www.fisherhouseinc.org/ http://www.thcs.org/Main.asp http://www.stpauldallas.com/ptg_housing.htm (this one's Dallas) Or was their accommodation full? Are you on wait/cancel lists? I think 7 weeks of accommodation in a private home is asking a lot, but some might be willing to help out (for a few days) if they knew other plans were pending. Are there hostels in San Antonio? Are they affordable? Here's more http://www.acor.org/mailing/index.html?l=p Acor Mailing list for Prostate http://www.phoenix5.org/supportgroups.html (by State) http://www.phoenix5.org/phonelist.html Phone lists by State http://www.phoenix5.org/mailinglists.html (includes ACOR above) The only other thing I can think of is to cross-post to alt.support.cancer alt.support.cancer.breast (and/or other support cancer newsgroups that I may not be aware of) and briefly describe the difficulty. I know there's quite a few on the latter newsgroup (from Texas). One lady had to drive and live in her truck during surgery, chemo and radiation. It's pretty sad that such can happen in Texas of all places ! If she sees your post, having BTDT, she (or others) might have some tips for you, although she's rather long-winded. ;-) and not too thrilled about support services in Texas. Just a thought in case the others above don't pan out for you and/or combinations of solutions. Good luck ! J >> I HATE asking for help from anyone but I am at my wit's end right now. >> I have contacted, without success all orgs and sites I can find or [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > >J Hi J. First, the Fisher House isn't free - it would cost more than the hostel in SA which would require a rather large membership fee to be able to use it or any other hostel there is in the US. My Doctor is at the Cancer Therapy, and Research Center, UT Med. There is some support, 25% of living expenses, that they are willing to do but I need to come back to Austin on Fridays and go back on Mondays to save a ton of money - 3/4 of a tank of gas is less expensive than the 3 nights I would be spending in Sa doing nothing. I also have two dogs I do not trust my roommates to take care of properly for 7 weeks because this is just a temporary arrangement for him and he doesn't like dogs, period. The waiting list for the Am. Cancer Soc. is huge. I was active in Health Care and Housing advocacy in Austin and in Texas and even my Dept of Human Service's Case worker is down on what the state does. Texas has only two states BELOW it in the rankings for social services in health care and 48 that provide better care, Arizona & Oregon paying 100% of everyone's cost, making up any differences between what the person has from their own insurance and what they have in ALL out of pocket expenses. NCI only pays for people who go there. The Dr. I am seeing in San Antonio was in on the IMRT from the start, working with the man at Baylor Med, Houston, who came up with the treatment and has done almost as many IMRT's as the originator has done. There isn't much of a better specialist around. I've checked the Phoenix 5 site links out and nada there, either. I may end up sleeping in my truck too. The only thing I have not yet investigated is a couple of monasteries in the area I know of which might be able to help me out. Will do that Monday. Anyway you cut it, I will need about $4000 for the ProstaScint and IMRT AFTER the CTRC applies their "hardship" discount of 25%. I am already making 4 - $20 per month payments and 1 - $10 a month payment for the previous two hospitalizations since March 2001 and pay about 3 times that for medications I need to keep my body going (which they do not factor in, BTW.) I'll still need to pay rent here and eat down there so I am pretty darned desperate. There will probably be a post tomorrow (later today) looking for work (I have been doing web sites for quite a while but not since just before 2001. I'll put my work web site up if I decide to advertise for work here. Thank you for your suggestions. I still don't understand why the link http://www.thcs.org/Main.asp was on your list. It is in Bonham. Regards, Jim Jim (AKA BillyBob, but only to newsgroups!) jjoy_DONT_USE_THIS_PART@austin_DONT_USE_THIS_PART.rr.com Pre-op. PSA: 5.1 11-2000. Age 56 Biopsy 1-3-2001: 3+3=6, only 10% difused cells, left side only RRP: 3-12-01, 20% difused cells, 20% capsular penetration, neg lymph & Sem. ves. Erection - 6 weeks and earier; 6wk; first decent one PSA's - .5,1.1,.5,.3,.4,.7,.7,.7,.6,.7,.7.,.9 NO ONE, not even my med school Pathology Prof. Step-Sister EVER said "radiation" - "Wait until it gets to 2.0, i.e. serious." (Last - Quote of urologist who did RRP!) Can't beat that deal at ANY price! AND I have a 30 year old car with only 26,000 miles on it that a little old lady only used to drive to church on Sundays. Want to buy that as well? > I still don't understand why the link > http://www.thcs.org/Main.asp was on your list. It is in Bonham. When I searched here http://www.nahhh.org/ on San Antonio, it came up. Must be their (Texoma's) head office address (as opposed to an actual accommodation address). J > <snip> > Texas has only two states BELOW it in the rankings for social services > in health care Alabama and Louisiana ? > <snip>The only thing I have not yet investigated is a couple of monasteries > in the area I know of which might be able to help me out. Will do that > Monday. Good luck with that. > <snip> > There will probably be a post tomorrow (later today) looking for work > (I have been doing web sites for quite a while but not since just > before 2001. > > I'll put my work web site up if I decide to advertise for work here. Also put on it....(something like this). It's being done on another newsgroup for a lady in trouble. (not alt.support.cancer) ********************************* I'm 56, diagnosed with prostate cancer 11-2000, surgery XX-2000 Previously disabled for other reasons. Still trying to pay off my debt for the previous two hospitalizations since March 2001 and pay about 3 times that for medications I need to keep my body going. No one told me that I should also have followup Radiation Therapy. My cancer's coming back and there's no such therapy in the city where I live. I must travel to another city for 7 weeks for treatment. I've explored and/or am availing myself of all options for discounts and other free resources for the above. I'm currently looking for possible on-line work, but in the meantime, the cancer continues to grow. The total cost (for treatments, imaging, travel and accommodation, over 7 weeks) is estimated at $XXXX.00 If anyone out there is reading this and can find it in their hearts to help, please send to: insert safe address where cheques/money orders can be mailed. 600 people @ $10.00 each = $6,000 300 people @ $20.00 each 100 people @ 100.00 each 120 people @ 50.00 each (combinations) ********************************* The lady on the (breast) cancer newsgroup is disabled too (in a way). Concert pianist who was run over or hit by a vehicle. Around the same time she went to find out about lumps and was told it was not cancer. A year later she was told it was and a fast-moving one (IIRC). She lived in her truck because the power and water was shut off a condemned house her relative left her because the house was condemned. She too had to travel to another city far away and slept in her truck. She bathed freshened up in fast food restaurant bathrooms. I'm mad aa he** that this kind of thing can happen in North America. (but I know it does). Best, J > Also put on it....(something like this). It's being done on another newsgroup for a lady > in trouble. (not alt.support.cancer) [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > The total cost (for treatments, imaging, travel and accommodation, over 7 weeks) is > estimated at $XXXX.00 more complete details about all this can be read here <http://groups.google.com/groups?as_epq=ANYONE%20in%20San%20Antonio%2C%20Tx%20or% 20close%20to%20it%20%3F%3F%3F%3F&safe=images&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&lr=&as_scoring=d& hl=en> > If anyone out there is reading this and can find it in their hearts to help, please send > to: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > 120 people @ 50.00 each > (combinations) I forgot to say, think of possibly one or two other newsgroups who might be sympathetic and have resources (ie $$) Change your sig line to Need help (cancer) and/or online work, see: your web site or can you find a free one to use for this purpose? J hey - i got an idea for that quick money. and it only cost you $6.00 remember those scams, i mean, ads where you send your dollar to all those names, well, if you were to put yourself down as the top name, i wonder how many people would send the dollar? :) ~ curtis knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional Sorry about not writing sooner but THIS MESSAGE JUST SHOWED UP ON MY SERVER !!!!! It is the 27th and the cable service ! can't even get the messages - some that could even save my life - off of the news feed! What a lousy "service"! Jim >> <snip> >> Texas has only two states BELOW it in the rankings for social services [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] >Best, >J Jim (AKA BillyBob, but only to newsgroups!) jjoy_DONT_USE_THIS_PART@austin_DONT_USE_THIS_PART.rr.com Pre-op. PSA: 5.1 11-2000. Age 56 Biopsy 1-3-2001: 3+3=6, only 10% difused cells, left side only RRP: 3-12-01, 20% difused cells, 20% capsular penetration, neg lymph & Sem. ves. Erection - 6 weeks and earier; 6wk; first decent one PSA's - .5,1.1,.5,.3,.4,.7,.7,.7,.6,.7,.7.,.9 NO ONE, not even my med school Pathology Prof. Step-Sister EVER said "radiation" - "Wait until it gets to 2.0, i.e. serious." (Last - Quote of urologist who did RRP!) Can't beat that deal at ANY price! AND I have a 30 year old car with only 26,000 miles on it that a little old lady only used to drive to church on Sundays. Want to buy that as well? |
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