Cancer - Looking for info. (Page 2)

HUGE bummer about the COBRA for you.

It's great to hear that you're continuing to pursue other avenues!

And best of all, you're keeping an awesome attitude and having a sense of humor about this, too!

I thought I'd post my aunt's story to give you some hope.

She was in the process of applying for health insurance after she left her teaching job.  Mid-application she found a lump in her breast.  She went through diagnosis and sure enough, it was breast cancer.  I will never know why, maybe the person handling her application had a family member who'd been through BC, maybe they had been through something themselves but for some reason they approved her application and her cancer treatment was covered.  To this day I tear up when I think about and I can only pray that the grace and good will that person showed my beloved aunt (who is, btw, a survivor of 5 years now after going through surgery, chemo then radiation) has had major good karma come their way.  

Good to know!  Thanks for that story.

I also JUST got a call from my doctor an hour ago.  As a side note, as soon as I saw the number I had this fantasy/hope they were going to say there was a mixup at the lab, and my test results were negative.  Stupid, right???

Anyway, they did have some helpful info.  The nurse went out of her way to tell me with the new health care laws that insurance CAN'T deny me based on pre-existing conditions.  The nurse is going to prepare a letter and my results and since I don't have a fax, going to send that to the insurance company for me making note that we are fully aware of the law and can't be denied.

To be clear, I was not denied, but my application was upheld pending the results of my pathology report.  I sort of assumed that they would deny me since it was bad.  HOWEVER, I have been given hope that now that's against the law, and the nurse/doctor are going to help me make that clear... 

SO, things may be looking up on the insurance front.

Sorry to keep putting all my biz up to be read... Sort of helps me.  I'm sitting at home while everyone is working, so it's nice to share the news with someone.  Even if it is an online forum.

Glad to know things are looking up on the insurance front, that is half the battle, then you can concentrate on getting well and back to normal as soon as possible.

And you dont have to be sorry about putting things out there, you never know who you migth helof and inspire to  get check out and at the same time it helps you sharing things with people that care even if its in a forum....I dont personally know you, but here to talk anytime.

F*ck Cancer. I was diagnosed nearly five years ago with testicular cancer. The first thing I learned is that cancer is a coward. You need to get your game face on and make up your mind that you are in a war you can win, and that you are going to kick, scratch, claw, bite, wail away, and generally never ever give up until you have kicked its .

That being said, there are three resources I found immensely helpful. www.cancer.gov is the US Government's site on cancer and will give you information, standard protocols, and stuff like that. It's a great resource to take a close look at exactly what you're dealing with, espoecially if you're like me and you want to know everything.

www.cancer.org is the American Cancer Society's website and will give you more great resources, as well as a hotline to call. the hotline is staffed by knowledgeable survivors who have been there before.

www.laf.org is the website for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. And you don't need to lose a ball to check it out. That being said, there is an incredible resource there called the LiveSTRONG Guidebook (link: http://www.store-laf.org/guidebook.html)which will help you keep track of doctor appointments, test results, and all of that. I can't recommend it highly enough. 

Feel free to PM me if there is ANYTHING I can do to help, even if it's just lend an ear.

So sorry about the crappy news and insurance PITA...hate that we don't have universal coverage in the US like all other inudustrialized countries...

On the plus side, my mom has been loiving without a thyroid for almost 30 years and doing great.

Cancer sucks.

Sending good thoughts your way - both for your health AND your potential insurance!  A dear friend, and my sister-in-law have both dealt with this.  One needed radiation, the other did not.  Both are on thyroid replacements.    YEARS of healthy living between the 2!!

Not a good thing, but surely beatable.

Thyroid problems are rampant in my family. Both of my sisters have had their thyroid removed - Graves disease. A cousin and two aunts have also had theirs removed. My mother in law has also had hers removed. All Graves disease, all are on medication, all doing fine.

My good friend had thyroid cancer, had it removed (this was many years ago) and has no problems now. She has gone on to race a HIM every year and is currently training for IM Louisville.

Best wishes to you!

Jim, just thought I'd chime in with my best wishes. I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said, but I'll put you on the list of everyone that I am racing for next month in my charity tri for one of the world's top cancer research facilities. That brings the list up to 6 specific cases of people that have personally affected me (I know, that number isn't huge to some, but this is all within the last 5 years, or 20% of my life... so a lot to deal with).

Kick some cancer arse, man. And, as I look at the water bottle from last year's race, I am reminded: Cancer be beaten

Big hugs to you! 

You just need to kick the cancer in the ding ding (you've had enough practice with Tony, right?) and you'll be good as new!  As with a lot of people on here, I had my own 10 year battle complete with 17 surgeries and 4 rounds of radiation.  Believe me...  you got this beat, no problem!  

Jim,

My thoughts and prayers go out to you in this challenging time.  I have no info to add but want you to know that after reading everyone's messages that you will totally beat this.  I will continue to keep you in my prayers and you WILL beat this! 

My Dad had to have his thyroid removed in 1977 and has had to take one pill a day for it since.  This has caused him NO problems and never interfered with his lifestyle.  I remember a couple of times when I was a kid he would forget to take the pill and then get sleepy, but that was it.

Ugh that sucks, but I'm glad to hear it's one of the most treatable kinds of cancer.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery!  Sending positive karma your way...

no radiation Jim - usually just remove the thyroid == cure.

My dad had radioactive ablation of the thyroid after surgery.  Basically, a radioactive iodine pill rather than traditional radiation to get rid of any residual thyroid activity. 

Keep us informed if you feel comfortable with that, Kido.

There's a lot of us thinking about you out here in cyberworld.

Well, not MUCH has happened.  Surgical consult this week on the 23rd...  That's about it.  I have not reason to believe this isn't "just a thing" and need to just take the right steps...  So much so, it's even weird to be making a big deal of it, you know?

The one thing that HAS changed, is that I sort of got tired of a week of being anxious and feeling down.  Sort of didn't feel like doing much.  That's over.  I gave myself a week of "this sucks" and now I'm back to it tomorrow.  IMAZ won't train for itself...

IT JUST SO HAPPENS...  that one of the bridesmaids in my wedding is married to a surgeon that works for a private practice that is TOPS in this sort of thing.  They do these all the time being in the neck/throat surgury biz...

We had breakfast this morning at the Madalay Bay buffet (YUM!) since they were in town.  He gave me the lowdown and what likely is my situation...  All very positive.  Nothing to take lightly, but nothing to sweat either, as long as it's taken care of.

He said in my case, he would take the whole thyroid and one dose of radioactive isotopes/iodine just for good measure.  Probably admit me one night into a hospital just for observation, but probably not needed.  Up to me.

And for the success rate?  He said easily 95% for 10-yr survivability rate and probably closer to 98.  So in other words...  It's cured after this.  Just need to keep an eye on body chemisty.  And of course, like everyone else said, a life time of sythroid or something.

"Like!"