Stage IV and no health insurance Help!

texacol · New User Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Texas

Hi my name is Tim. I have Stage IV colon cancer and am a bit desperate as well as being sad and scared. Real quick: A little over 3 weeks ago, on August 5, after being sick with abdominal pains for over a week, I went to an ER, had an assessment and a CT scan and was admitted to the hospital, where I underwent emergency surgery the next day, August 6. The surgeon found that a colon cancer tumor had attacked the appendix, and he removed the appendix AND part of my colon, on the right side. Colon cancer. I was in the hospital 9 days recovering from the surgery, and on Wednesday, August 27, I saw an oncologist. He told me I had stage IV colon cancer and the cancer cells had busted through the colon wall along with many lymph nodes and was in the lymphatic system. Hasn’t settled in another organ yet, but he feels it’s inevitable, so he calls it state IV. Even though he estimates my chances for a cure at only 20%, there’s a chance, and even I had to admit that a small chance IS a chance. He wants me to have chemo (FORFOX) every 2 weeks beginning around October 1, 8 weeks after surgery, which I’m still recovering from.

Here’s the kicker: I don’t have health insurance. I have been suffering from depression and agoraphobia and panic attacks for over twenty years. I had a job transcribing medical dictation at home, but it only paid a few hundred dollars a month. I live with my mother and between what I made and her social security, etc., we don’t have much at all. I know now I should have applied for disability for the mental problems long ago, but was too proud. But that is spilt milk.

I live in a small town in Texas, right outside Austin. These chemo treatments and other charges are, as you know, terribly expensive. It’s a small chance, but one I want to take. I want to live if possible. I need these chemo treatments.

If anyone knows of social services or programs I can get into/contact/get help from to get chemo, I would appreciate whatever information more than you can imagine. Texas has a health program for indigents and I’ve contacted them and have an appointment. I’ve contacted SSI and am trying to get disability and Medicaid. But I’m very worried and a bit desperate. Any other source of help, I don’t know who else to contact. It’s only been 23 days since I knew I had cancer, only 2 since I knew it was stage IV, and I just don’t know where to turn. I thank you in advance for any information anyone can give me. Very much appreciated.

dano

Hi Tim;
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I'm no expert on a lot of this stuff but I believe that a good source of help from American Cancer Society.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
My wife and I went to some local meetings and got a lot of help, good ideas and financial help.
God Bless
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymph's and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, stopped taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

rmaureen · Moderator Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 335

Hi Tim:

I was in the same predicament--uninsured, and not knowing how I would get treatment. I was able to get Medicaid-- LATER, but the hospital allowed me to get treatment, I think mainly do to the intervention from a social worker at the hospital. Contact your hospital, and make an appointment with the social worker there, and see what can be done. Medicaid reimbursed most of my costs, including surgery and radiation. What my social worker informed me, and it worked, was to write "Medicaid Pending" on all parts of forms asking for my medical insurance or how I would pay. It worked. Go on and not delay in getting treatment, and I bet you will get approved for disability, being stage 4. Right now focus on trying to live through this. You will be in my prayers Tim.

Rhonda

dano

Great info Rhonda!
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymph's and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, stopped taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

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