#52889 09-19-2004 05:36 AM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 148 Gold Member (100+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 148 | I'd love an opinion from the experts...
I had a very frank discussion with my ENT oncologist at my check up last Friday. I talked with him about hoping to move to Florida, and insurance coverage and employment there.
His first point was that my follow up visits were just like if I had diabetes or something, a condition that needs monitoring. He also said finding employment with a large company where the risk is spread among many employees is better than a small one where a recurrence would be devastating to the group as a whole. Since I have typically worked in hospital systems that cover their employees well within the system, at a somewhat lesser rate within the managing insurance provider network, and 50/50 out of network, I am hoping to be ok. (I will obviously check all this out BEFORE making a change...)
My hospital is part of a large system of hospitals with it's base in Florida, so I am hoping to transfer my employment. I am definitely a rose colored glasses gal, am I thinking too pie in the sky?
Sincerely,
Lisa
Lisa
SCC of Tongue Stage 1 (T1,N0,M0)
partial glossectomy,modified neck dissection 4/14/03
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#52890 09-19-2004 07:43 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Lisa
Go for it Girl, you get nothing in this world if you don't aim HIGH. Ask the right questions and I'm sure you'll be fine...
Sunshine(florida type) love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#52891 09-19-2004 08:58 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Hell NO! Live girl!
Take care of yourself but...Live.
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#52892 09-19-2004 09:21 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 | Go for it!
i hope you're talking about Key West...
yet all of Florida is fine.
cu,
larryb | | |
#52893 09-20-2004 04:26 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Lisa, I would be willing to pose as you and move to Florida in YOUR new job just in case.  Right now Gainesville has one of the top 5 lowest unemployment rate. I am not sure what part you are looking at but I personally would love to live just about anywhere in Florida. Your best bet is always to transfer in the same company even if they don't pick up the relocation costs. They are tax deductible if you didn't know. Your area of work is always in demand anywhere in the country. It doesn't matter what you do, if it is medical related there are jobs. With COBRA and HIPA laws, you will be covered but, again, in the same company would be the best. There will be specialists that can monitor you in Florida, too. There are no income taxes. There are cheap trips to anywhere in the Carribean always. There is great seafood. What are you waiting for? Do what you love in life... Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#52894 09-20-2004 06:42 AM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 148 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 148 | YEE HAW! My husband is an independent contractor whose contract is up 7/31/05, so that is what we are aiming for, and looking in the Orlando area first. (We are actually checking out subdivisions on our way to our October cruise!)
Believe me Ed, I know all about cheap trips to the Carribbean! We love to cruise and eliminating air fare is just the start of the savings. With both sides of our families in the KC area I will be able to coincide some follow up with my beloved ENT and he already has some doctors he knows in different areas of the state that he would be glad to work with.
And Brian, if you are reading this post, this is why I am volunteering to Google rather than coordinate at this point!
Sincerely,
Lisa
Lisa
SCC of Tongue Stage 1 (T1,N0,M0)
partial glossectomy,modified neck dissection 4/14/03
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#52895 09-20-2004 08:46 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Lisa, If you scuba dive, Ft Lauderdale and Miami (Watson Island) are the cheapest spots to bop over to Bimini (cheapest dive site in the world with over 75 sites within an hour). We went to Freeport on a shark dive back in 2000 and the other people on the boat were from OP. What a small world! I took a 55 foot motor sailor from Miami and lived on it for a week as an advanced scuba class through KU. What great fun! I was up in Lawrence for Labor Day seeing my sister, watching the KU home opener football game and the basketball exhibition from Canada. I thought about you all weekend but I didn't know how to get in touch with you and felt it was too short notice to pester you. If you move to Florida, I won't be so bashful!  Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#52896 09-20-2004 11:33 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Lisa, As a resident of South Florida, I can testify that it is a great place to live. Weather is good, even with the hurricanes, sports are good, food is great, and medical care, due to the large number of elderly, is phenomenol. The cancer center I go to at University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Center is top drawer for head and neck and are always looking for medical staff. Do you speak Spanish? It isn't required, but is a big help. If you decide to look down here, I can point you into some directions as my wife works for a pediatric group.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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