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update with the doctors
Dec. 2nd, 2003 04:32 amSo, today I went to the oncologist's with my mother to see about getting results on her recent CAT scans. Last week, she had visited her family doctor (who had also received the results) and they told her a bunch of shit, which got me into an uproar.
Admittedly, I KNEW that radiologists and oncologists read the scans very, very differently. It doesn't seem like it would be such a hard thing to do, but there you go.
Knowing all of that, I still lost my shit when she told me the things which her family doctor said (as detailed in a post, a couple of entries back). Today, however, the oncologist told us that things weren't really all that bad and there wasn't much of a change in her films since the last time she'd been scanned. The spots on her pelvis are unchanged and they very well could just be scar tissue. There's two spots on her lungs which have grown a tiny amount (the radiologist had said a SIGNIFICANT amount). And there isn't a damn thing near her liver. When I asked him about that, he looked at me funny and started reading through the results again. Nope. Nothing about the liver.
In essence, there's nothing new to be afraid about. Granted, things aren't all peachy creamy. But, there isn't anything that we should be freaking out about right now (with this, at least). He did say that she could begin treatment for the lung spots after the holidays, if she wanted, and recommended a clinical study program that they've currently been conducting.
We got some information about it, it didn't sound too bad, and appointments were set up for her to do an informed consent session. However, after reading through the paperwork, I noticed that it said something along the lines of "medications for side effects may not be covered by your insurance company. Please check with them to be sure." So, I had her call the insurance company and see about that.
Apparently, they're not. And as a matter of fact, neither is the treatment period. The treatment involves an investigational drug in Phase III research study which has yet to be approved by the FDA. Therefore, the insurance company says no.
Balls to that. I'm a bit irritated at that news, but not enough to be calling anyone up and threatening their parakeet. Yet.
In other mother related news, she's been talking to some people who are still employed by her former company. And there are numerous rumours going around as to the status of the business. Most of which center on it closing down in the near future. If this happens, it means she won't be receiving insurance anymore (she went out on disability, instead of getting laid off. They gave her a choice of the two, how very benevolent of them. *snrk*). If this happens, I'm going to be on a certain dogdick's doorstep with a very large axe to grind. However since it's only rumour right now, I won't be heading to my father's house to sharpen any tools in the near future.
Some of you out there should probably be thankful for that. :P
Admittedly, I KNEW that radiologists and oncologists read the scans very, very differently. It doesn't seem like it would be such a hard thing to do, but there you go.
Knowing all of that, I still lost my shit when she told me the things which her family doctor said (as detailed in a post, a couple of entries back). Today, however, the oncologist told us that things weren't really all that bad and there wasn't much of a change in her films since the last time she'd been scanned. The spots on her pelvis are unchanged and they very well could just be scar tissue. There's two spots on her lungs which have grown a tiny amount (the radiologist had said a SIGNIFICANT amount). And there isn't a damn thing near her liver. When I asked him about that, he looked at me funny and started reading through the results again. Nope. Nothing about the liver.
In essence, there's nothing new to be afraid about. Granted, things aren't all peachy creamy. But, there isn't anything that we should be freaking out about right now (with this, at least). He did say that she could begin treatment for the lung spots after the holidays, if she wanted, and recommended a clinical study program that they've currently been conducting.
We got some information about it, it didn't sound too bad, and appointments were set up for her to do an informed consent session. However, after reading through the paperwork, I noticed that it said something along the lines of "medications for side effects may not be covered by your insurance company. Please check with them to be sure." So, I had her call the insurance company and see about that.
Apparently, they're not. And as a matter of fact, neither is the treatment period. The treatment involves an investigational drug in Phase III research study which has yet to be approved by the FDA. Therefore, the insurance company says no.
Balls to that. I'm a bit irritated at that news, but not enough to be calling anyone up and threatening their parakeet. Yet.
In other mother related news, she's been talking to some people who are still employed by her former company. And there are numerous rumours going around as to the status of the business. Most of which center on it closing down in the near future. If this happens, it means she won't be receiving insurance anymore (she went out on disability, instead of getting laid off. They gave her a choice of the two, how very benevolent of them. *snrk*). If this happens, I'm going to be on a certain dogdick's doorstep with a very large axe to grind. However since it's only rumour right now, I won't be heading to my father's house to sharpen any tools in the near future.
Some of you out there should probably be thankful for that. :P