| Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 1 Member | OP Member Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 1 | I am a 39 year old female with no health insurance. My husband was laid off from his job and cobra ran out. He took a job with a small company (that pays the bills but doesn't offer any benefits including health insurance). I have been seeing a dr here at a clinc here for years (regular family doctor) for a heart problem that I have had my whole life. Now, I have this sore in the back fold of my throat beside my uvula. She had seen this as I go really sick in January ( took 5 different antibiotics including a steroid) she has told me it was nothing but an ulcer or from sinus or reflux. She even treated me for thrush I know it's something more. There is a lump beside it and it bleeds a little sometimes. I'm having trouble getting into see an ENT because of the insurance thing. should I go to the emergency room or just wait for her office to call me back with a referral that I requested 2 weeks ago? | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Hi Bubbles,
Call your county public health department and they can direct you as the what services are available to you based on your specific situation; primarily income and assets drive the assessment. Obviously, the less of both you have the greater chance you have of qualifying for some safety net medical program. Do get on it sooner rather than later as any treatment you receive while not covered will result in your mailbox getting flooded with bills so you want to have some program being a shield to deflect the bills away from you. Good luck.
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Also, many hospitals have programs to help the non insured, so you can call them directly too. A social worker there, may even coordiante benefits available with city, state, federal government programs. Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | If the sore has been there for over 2 weeks and has not heeled then it needs to be checked by a professional. I suggest finding an ENT who specializes in oral cancer. With insurance problems it may be tricky finding someone who will work with you. By going to the ER, it probably wont help. They are there for emergencies and they wouldnt deem this as being an emergency situation. I doubt they would do a biopsy, which is what you will need to find out what the sore is. But try calling different hospitals and ask about programs they offer for charity cases. Many hospitals will offer special programs but they dont advertise these things to everyone, if you dont ask you wont find out about them. Not all family doctors are familiar with oral cancer so Im not surprised that this spot was not investigated more thoroughly. There are all kinds of free oral cancer screenings going on all over the country during the month of April. While they wouldnt biopsy the sore they can at least check you out and maybe if you are lucky they will know of someplace that will help you even without insurance. Oral Cancer Screening Events 2013 Good luck!!! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | |
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