#12281 09-29-2007 12:40 PM | Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 | Minnie,
My wife and I were very moved by your website and made a dontation thru her Pay-pal account. My wife had another suggestion: email Michael Moore at Michaelmoore.com. He collected people's tales of mistreatment by insurance companies for the documentary "Sicko" and he has the power to bring great publicity to these issues if you can get him to respond. I suggest at least going to his website and trying to contact him or his people.
Best of luck,
Danny G.
Stage IV Base of Tongue SCC
Diagnosed July 1, 2002, chemo and radiation treatments completed beginning of Sept/02.
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#12282 09-29-2007 05:12 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Danny, My daughter, Amy, is sitting beside me as I write this and she said "Michael Moore is awesome!" We're going to go to his site now and check it out. Thank you for the donation, the support means alot. Also, SO HAPPY for you reaching your five year mark! Love, Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#12283 09-30-2007 04:00 AM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | It's true, "Sicko" was about exactly the kind of runaround you have gotten from your insurance company, Minnie. It's sad how many stories like that he is able to collect.
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
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#12284 09-30-2007 11:57 AM | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 | Minnie--October 4th is one of my milestones too--'Review' after chemo and CT scan--may get another 'prognosis' which I've avoided until now---but I am going to ask him if he thinks it's worth my buying new Christmas Lights and Decorations--also one of my main 'longish' term plans.
Also be good to have a 'recheck' on whether I should go to CA to visit my daughter (though it looks like it will have to be without insurance!)
Your whole family is wonderful and I wish you all the best of luck with all your efforts, I'm so glad the 'insurance' thing isn't an issue for us in the UK (as long as we stay at home that is!)
Take care Minnie, it will soon be Thursday, then 'life starts again' for you,
Brenda
Brenda in UK--Diagnosis 30/5/07--undifferentiated carcinoma in right jawbone and muscles. Stage 4
6/7/07--new diagnosis primary is in lung. Finished 4cycles of palliative carboplatin/gemcitabine
therapy September 07
Now dying to live!
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#12285 10-01-2007 03:17 AM | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Minnie,
I will be thinking of you and your family. The waiting and anticipating is sometimes the very hardest part of all. Just keep busy with you family as much as you can.
Please be in touch soon.
Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO.
Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw.
Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo.
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#12286 10-01-2007 03:26 PM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 69 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 69 | Minnie,
I'll definitely be thinking of you on Thursday and wishing you all the best. I hope the tube feeding is going well and you are getting some good nutrition before surgery. Did you say you would be in the hospital 12 or so days? I'll miss reading your posts daily and will anticipate hearing from you when you feel like getting back online. You'll have my prayers everyday Minnie.
Love,
Pam
SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV- 2/04 - 40 Rads 1/2 conventional, 1/2 IMRT; 3 chemo treatments consisting of Carboplatin/Taxol/5-FU; Right Radical Neck Dissection
7/04; scans and pathology clear
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#12287 10-02-2007 02:04 AM | Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 | Minnie,
My wife, Nancy, who was a T.V. news director for 25 years has another suggestion, that can be accomplished much more easily than getting in touch with Michael Moore. Contact the investigative reporters from your local T.V. stations and let them know that you have a story to tell about a cancer patient fighting for her life getting screwed by her insurance company. They are always looking for interesting stories.
Imagine having your beautiful family interviewed on the news outlining your poignant story and what they are doing to raise money for your treatment. I guarantee you that the stations will want to run your story, and it just might shame the insurance companies into doing the right thing.
Give em' hell!
Danny G.
Stage IV Base of Tongue SCC
Diagnosed July 1, 2002, chemo and radiation treatments completed beginning of Sept/02.
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#12288 10-02-2007 06:53 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Danny, the insurance company has agreed to pay an "out of network" amount but we had to change our policy and our premium is now higher. We'll still have steep medical bills but not as bad as we first thought. Regardless, we're heading to Hopkins tomorrow as we simply decided that money wouldn't stand in the way of me having the best outcome possible. As you can see, my girls can be very determined about things!
I'll have one of the girls keep you all posted from my laptop in the motel room.
Love to all, please keep your prayers coming, especially for Thursday's surgery.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#12289 10-03-2007 07:26 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Hi Minnie,
Sounds like a good compromise with the insurance company. I'm surprised that they let you change the policy and give you at least some coverage. That is really great news as most companies wouldn't do that. Most would make you wait until the renewal period.
The prayers have been in high gear since you first let us know about your recurrence. We'll be doubling up on them tomorrow.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#12290 10-03-2007 10:38 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Minnie, I am praying for your surgery tomorrow, please have the girls email or call me when you feel up to having a visit.....Thanks and God Bless, Love, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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