| | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |  Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | We are all hoping for the best.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 | Tomorrow is Joyce first Erbitux chemo treatment. She had 2 radiation treatments last week. The plan is 6 Erbitux chemo and 35 radiation treatments. Please include her in your thoughts and prayers.
Joyce March 1940 to January 2014
A wife, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
She fought oral cancer from late 2009 to Early 2014.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Will do... hopefully she will pull through this but it's going to be a long haul if she's in bad shape already... more power to her!!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 | It is so sad to let you know that the treatments have to wait due to lack of finances. The entire series would cost the family $30,000. Plus whatever is needed after. As of today total spent is close to $50,000 over 4 years (all sent by the children).
Unfortunately we can only do so much and still be able to survive.
Last edited by Ina; 06-11-2013 08:22 AM.
Joyce March 1940 to January 2014
A wife, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
She fought oral cancer from late 2009 to Early 2014.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Call the local newspapers.
Call your local TV stations.
Call the local health departments.
Call Moffitt, they treat people without insurance.
Call anyone who will listen.
You tell them that she WILL DIE a horrible death without this Tx
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | 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 | Patient is in Philliphines, David. I didn't know in previous posts either. Sorry to hear Ina, I hope your family finds a way.
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: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Ina,
I've been following this post about your MIL and I've been keeping her in my prayers. You are a great DIL and I feel so bad for you and your family being in this situation. I will continue to pray for her.
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0
Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV-
Surgery: June 2005
RT: Feb-Apr 2006
HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105!
Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010
Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia
Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia
Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Yes -Ina is in Florida but her MIL is in the Philippines - sadly - I sense this is why her medical care has been wonky from the get go. And why Ina has been asking for advice - ;o)
If you are in a position where you have to pay for all of your medical care, you need to research what your best odds are for survival and follow that route from the outset. Unfortunately greed plays a big role in the medical establishment and their suggestions.
I am so sorry that finances even have to play a role in her survival though I know for many here it does. Often people put off going to the dr. because they can't afford it etc... (usually until the problem is very serious and needs extensive care)
She doesn't have any medical insurance?
Prayers to you and your family. But based on the description you were giving us a while back the treatment they were trying on her was a last ditch effort and aimed more at lining the drs. pockets, than actually cure her.
Hugs my dear.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 143 | Joyce has no medical insurance. They have discounted Senior Citizen cards. The money spent on the surgeries and treatments in the past are all from the children's savings or loans. All are over extended in terms of loans. An additional $30,000 or $10,000 per child is not feasible. Some of our loans from the Mandibular resection and chemo will take 3 years to pay - 2015  We paid for the peg out of our son's savings, which will pay monthly. That alone was $3000, she had complications and had to stay in the hospital for a week - high fever and weakness. It also paid for the 2 radiation treatments last week. The children were told the likelihood of the cancer returning is high. But the family was willing to do it all just to extend her life. Unfortunately there is no cure and all efforts are for life extension. I thank all of you for your love and concern. We are one happy family.
Last edited by Ina; 06-12-2013 08:50 AM.
Joyce March 1940 to January 2014
A wife, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
She fought oral cancer from late 2009 to Early 2014.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Ina,
I am sorry to hear about your situation and being so far away and dealing with foreign international health care systems. Since you basically don't have insurance you could shop internationally for care. Of course there are complexities involved but maybe for others do you have any words of wisdom for those who might be able to obtain quality heath care in other countries?
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 | | |
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