My mother was diagnosed a little over two weeks ago with Oral SCC. She doesn't have insurance and so we are trying to get her approved for financial assistance at MD Anderson. Has anyone got experience with this porcess... seems like it is taking forever. When my mother was diagnosed and released from our local hospital, the Dr. told her she needed to have surgery ASAP in order to save her life. She has a 1x1x2 inch tumor in her mouth and is having trouble eating, she is bleeding from the mouth, and is in alot of pain. The Dr. also said he believes it has spread to her lymph nodes. She hasn't seen an Oncologist so we are not sure what stage she is in. Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Financial assistance at a hospital will go strictly by her specific monthly income. Usually the hospitals are slightly easier to get qualified for. Please do not let finances decide her treatment. If necessary, make payment arrangements to pay something monthly on the bill. Can you make appointments to see a team of oncologists at MD Anderson before she gets approved? It would be quicker to get her scheduled for the appointment while you are waiting.

Im glad to see your mother is going to be going to a major cancer center like MD Anderson. Im going to assume your mother has been given a biopsy to determine that she has SCC. The staging will be determined with a combo of the size of the tumor, if it has spread, and a PET or CT scan.

Your mother should be on some type of pain meds if she hurts. Call the doc and ask for something to give her. Maybe the fentanyl patch since she has trouble eating/swallowing. This is an easy way to get the pain under control quickly. It will take up to 24 hours for it to kick in but then you only have to change it every 3 days. I would think she would start off low with 25 or 50mgs. That is just a good guess. Im not a medical professional but have seen hundreds of patients go thru treatment for oral cancer.

Dont be surprised if your mother would get a feeding tube. If she is already having trouble eating, it would be a tool that will help to get her proper nutrition, calories and hydration. Make sure she drinks even though it may be difficult. It would be a good idea to pick up some boost or ensure to give her. Right now she needs to try to up her calories to aprox 2500 daily and a minimum of 48 oz of water. She will feel alot better if those minimums are met daily.

Best wishes with everything!!!

If she's not currently on an opiate pain med they'll likely start her off on like an oxy, which you can get in liquid form before going to fentanyl until she builds a tolerance. Going right to fentanyl even a low dose can be risky due to the potency of that drug.

She is on Vicodan for pain. We have not been able to find anyone to see her because she doesn't have insurance or the money to pay out of pocket for a visit. MD Anderson said we would need to pay $14,300 for them to see her before her financial paperwork is approved.
-Theresa

WHAT? thats ridiculous... seriously... I know dr.s don't want to work for free, but saving lives should come first. I would go to the paper, call a columnist, explain your plight... it says a little something about the sorry state of the medical profession if no one will take someone who has a deadly disease because they have no insurance. Seriously call a reporter at the local newspaper and maybe they will take it on as a human interest story! That may do two things... shame some of the dr.s into realizing that the profession is NOT all about MONEY. And secondly maybe you will then find a dr. who is willing to help. I can't believe MD anderson either... they're a CCC for heavens sake. Realistically I know dr.s go to school for like 8 years and have bills up the wazoo when they graduate but if the ONLY reason you are in the profession is to make cash then you should not be practicing. All dr.s should be required to take on a few patients that have little or no income. IT might open their eyes to what's around them.

If you have an elderly parent living at home with you and they are incapacitated and you go out to the store for an hour and they fall out of bed, did you know that you can be charged with negligence? Well I feel the same way about this particular scenario. If you have a patient come to you and he or she has a deadly disease like cancer and doesn't get treatment in a timely fashion, you should be charged. if that patient dies.

Sorry stuff like this peeves me OFF.
I wish I could help. I'm sorry. Perhaps there is a local clinic that caters to poeple without insurance that will have her looked at? There is a financial section here on the forum. try looking there... sorry I'm canadian... and I really don't know the ins and outs of the american system.
hugs. and good luck.

Theresa,
I take it yall are local? Houston area?
There are other cancer centers here that will work with y'all. I know a fantastic one.
I agree with Cheryl....take it to AIKEN!! Radio is good too, I have a friend that owns a local radio station (KSTAR).
If I can be of any help, please let me know.
Teresa