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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / September 2006Futile
I'm back again (my original post was "tests questions". Anyway, things have become more complicated for me. 1- For one thing the more research I do the more my conclusions are that all of the treatments carry considerable risk. Duh! I know it's obvious but based on the things I've read none of those risks and drawback, downsides, etc seem all that nice. 2- Seondly I'm doing most of my reading off the net and my doctor gave me the book, Prostate Cancer, A - Z. Any opinions on that book ? 3- I've had a really difficult time career wise being unemployed now with no insurance for 5 months. I was on my wife's insurace ( a pretty good plan). Unexpectedly she was let go last week and the insurance will go through the end of September. This really f.cked my head up since it seems that now not only do I have to decide on treatment but not sure how I will pay for it and recovery ( if needed). Also in the event one of us does return to work, I think "pre existing condition" would rule since i was diagnosed already. Anyone know anything about this ? 4- Lastly I'm not sure at this point if I want to do anything. I mean it's so slow growing and form what I see ranges in life expectency are calculated in 5 - 10 year ranges. It seems plausible that I could easily risk not making a decision for a year or two without it spreading beyond it's current localization. Stuart > I'm back again (my original post was "tests questions". > Anyway, things have become more complicated for me. [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Stuart Stuart, before you rush to a decision, have your wife check with the HR department at her company and see if she can buy COBRA coverage for up to 18 months after she leaves. It is generally available at companies with 20 employees or more. It's expensive, but a lot better than having no coverage at all. Alex We will have the choice of COBRA but at probably $1000 a month and neither of us working (and no savings left) it's not going to be an option. As I've been mulling over the various treatments it's becoming clearer to me that "watchful waiting" maybe an option for me. Even though I'm right at those numbers where they say not, looking at the 5-10 year range it's a roll of the dice I might be willing to take. Stuart >> Stuart > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Alex On August 21, Stuart wrote: > We will have the choice of COBRA but at probably $1000 a month and > neither of us working (and no savings left) it's not going to be an [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > range it's a roll of the dice I might be willing to take. > I believe that most, perhaps all, states have "Medicaid" programs for folks who have limited resources. They are funded in major part by the Feds, but administered by the states. I suggest looking into it. Regards, Steve J > We will have the choice of COBRA but at probably $1000 a month and > neither of us working (and no savings left) it's not going to be an [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > right at those numbers where they say not, looking at the 5-10 year > range it's a roll of the dice I might be willing to take. Stuart, Depending on the treatment, it may take only a day or two in the hospital (brachytherapy) are a few days to a week (surgery), plus followup care for a few months. For brachytherapy, the required followup may be fairly simple or even non-existent if there are no complications - though that is never guaranteed. External beam radiation takes about 9 weeks for planning and execution, plus followup care, which may be simple if there are no complications. With both kinds of radiation, you can continue looking for work and accept it if you can get it. I don't know what your financial status is, but I don't think you should risk dying to save $3,000 worth of COBRA insurance. Also, investigate Medicaid and Medicare, unemployment insurance. Call some local social work agencies to seek help. They should be able to refer you to some place where you can get information about what government help might be available. Alan On August 21, Stuart also wrote: > As I've been mulling over the various treatments it's becoming clearer > to me that "watchful waiting" maybe an option for me. Even though I'm > right at those numbers where they say not, looking at the 5-10 year > range it's a roll of the dice I might be willing to take. > Caution: "Watchful Waiting" does *not* mean doing nothing. It means carefully following any developments through frequent tests and being prepared to take action at any time. And I mean more than just PSA tests. See the pages on the subject on the authoritative website of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute at: http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html and search on "watchful waiting." Regards, Steve J I know in Virginia you may keep your insurance but you pay the premium for it. It's the law, I just don't know if it is a federal or state law. Contact the insurance company immediately! Also when you/she goes back to work and gets new insurance then you are not considered to have a pre-existing condition. The problem is no one knows if you have a slow growing cancer or an aggressive cancer. You need to be treated. Bev > I'm back again (my original post was "tests questions". > Anyway, things have become more complicated for me. [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Stuart Stuart...the folks here gave great advice. I was gonna mention COBRA...but you answered that. I have forgotten your age and status. You shouldn't practice watchful waiting just because of insurance. If you need treatment...maybe you can contact the state and get some help. Wishing you the best, Ron B. Chicago Are you a Vietnam vet? If so your medical care is FREE! Bev > I'm back again (my original post was "tests questions". > Anyway, things have become more complicated for me. [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Stuart Even if you are not a Vietnam vet, if you were honorably discharged from any branch of the armed services, contact the VA. The cost is on a sliding scale, based on income. My husband's VA doc (We also have private insurance) describes it as "the world's largest HMO" but it's good care. CW89134 _________________________________________________________________ > Are you a Vietnam vet? If so your medical care is FREE! > Bev [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > > > Stuart . > 1- For one thing the more research I do the more my conclusions are > that all of the treatments carry considerable risk. Duh! I know it's > obvious but based on the things I've read none of those risks and > drawback, downsides, etc seem all that nice. I can honestly say that there is not one solitary advantage to any treatment for prostate cancer -- except of course life. If it weren't life, I proably wouldn't have gone through the surgery, radiation or hormone treatment. Oh, sure, it was nice to have a 6-week paid vacation during the holidays in 2000. And, those 35 short naps were okay in 2002. And, how many men can look at a picture of Rachel Welch and realize that her navel is out of place. But, all in all, all the risks, drawbacks and downsides were a bummer. > 2- Seondly I'm doing most of my reading off the net and my doctor gave > me the book, Prostate Cancer, A - Z. Any opinions on that book ? Never read it, so I cannot compare it to Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, Strum's Primer on Prostate Cancer or Peter Scardino's Prostate Book. Those are apparently the favored books here. > 3- I've had a really difficult time career wise being unemployed now > with no insurance for 5 months. I was on my wife's insurace ( a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > existing condition" would rule since i was diagnosed already. > Anyone know anything about this ? Get your surgery scheduled for September. That's going to be the most costly item. And look into COBRA. I know nothing about it, but it seems like it's often recommended for people in your position. > 4- Lastly I'm not sure at this point if I want to do anything. I mean > it's so slow growing and form what I see ranges in life expectency are > calculated in 5 - 10 year ranges. It seems plausible that I could > easily risk not making a decision for a year or two without it > spreading beyond it's current localization. You are, in my humble opinion, suffering from depression and a severe case of denial. You are going to have to get a job, research your disease and make a decision based on what's best for your long term health; or you won't have long term health. Or, you can let your wife do it for you. On August 21, Steve Kramer wrote an excellent response to Stuart: > I can honestly say that there is not one solitary advantage to any treatment > for prostate cancer -- except of course life. If it weren't life, I proably [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > place. > Is that true about Raquel (not Rachel)? Maybe I'm somehow related, as mine is, too. > But, all in all, all the risks, drawbacks and downsides were a bummer. > True, except for the alternative. And we must bear in mind that doing nothing can have its SEs, too. Deadly ones. (su-nip) Advising Stuart: > Get your surgery scheduled for September. Or whatever tx is selected. Surgery is not the be-all and end-all. > That's going to be the most costly item. And look into COBRA. I know nothing about it, but it seems like it's often recommended for people in your position. > COBRA = Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act A terminated employee (except, I think, one who is terminated "for cause") can elect to continue to be covered by his former employer's insurance. (S)he must pay for it, though. The period provided is 18 months. Further replying, Steve wrote: (ka-snip) > You are, in my humble opinion, suffering from depression and a severe case > of denial. You are going to have to get a job, research your disease and > make a decision based on what's best for your long term health; or you won't > have long term health. Or, you can let your wife do it for you. > Steve is undiplomatic but correct, I think. I briefly tried Paxil, and antidepressant, but stopped when I concluded that I had good reason to be depressed. As for letting Stuart's wife do the heavy lifting of research and communication (granting that Stuart has shown no tendency to do so), I confess that that is one of my pet peeves. We often see women, wives, friends, daughters, et cetera, posting here and elsewhere seeking help for their men. I love them for their devotion. But I cannot respect a "man" who, being otherwise capable, hides behind the skirts of a devoted woman. I know all too well the agony of fear that men can experience upon being informed that their genito-urinary system is under attack by a ruthless killer. I am not sympathetic to "men" who hide whimpering in a corner and hope that "mommy" will protect them. Which she cannot do. And from a practical standpoint, there is very much to be gained when the person directly at risk is the one who does the research. Rant over. For now. Regards, Steve J "Empowerment: taking responsibility for, and authority over one's own outcomes based on education and knowledge of the consequences and contingencies involved in one's own decisions. This focus provides the uplifting energy that can sustain in the face of crisis." --Donna Pogliano, co-author of _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_, subtitled "The Empowered Patient's Guide." > Is that true about Raquel (not Rachel)? Maybe I'm somehow related, as mine > is, too. Sorry. Yes. Raquel. Damned shame too. Everything else is perfect. : Never read it, so I cannot compare it to Walsh's Guide to Surviving : Prostate Cancer, Strum's Primer on Prostate Cancer or Peter : Scardino's Prostate Book. Those are apparently the favored books here. Has anyone read Dr. Katz's Guide to Prostate Health? I just bought it and I like the approach.  SignatureJuhana "All facts are theory-laden" - Paul Feyerabend Stuart wrote: > 3- I've had a really difficult time career wise being unemployed now > with no insurance for 5 months. I was on my wife's insurace ( a [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >In New York State where I live there is something called "Healthy New York" which provides quality private insurance to people with limited means. You have to pay about $200 a month. I would think your state has a similar program. Also in New York there is an amazing law: if you have a "preexisting condition" (in which they include a new diagnosis of PCa) and if you have any private insurance you are entitled by law to switch to any other insurer. They are compelled to accept you. Sometimes this comes in real handy if you have a specific doctor or hospital in mind. Maybe your state has a similar program. You have more options than you think. I recommend the Prostate Book by peter scardino. He has a special page (highlighted) in which he addresses people who opt not to treat their PCa. He says that if a person foregoes treatment for fear of losing sexual functioning it makes no sense because the cancer will eventually encroach on the erectile nerves and cause impotence. I think some mood-lifting drugs would help you enormously. Its worth a try. Prozac is the new penicillin. Good Luck, Leah |
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