Yuyu's Cancer Diary
August 19, 2008
| Fighting just to start fighting cancer (I hope it makes sense) | Views: 547 |
Well, yesterday was exhausting day since I was basically shopping around for a 2nd opinion all day. I didn’t know that arranging an independent 2nd opinion would be this hard and stressful.
Having a HMO, you can only get a second opinion from the surgeon within the same medical group. That’s what I was told by my primary care doctor and my insurance company.
The problem is there are only two surgeons within my medical group, the one who gave me the diagnosis and the other one who works with him. The nurse there already tells me that it is waste of my time going for a second opinion from the other surgeon since he works with the my original surgeon and will give me the same opinion.
What? I need an independent opinion, not an opinion from someone who reluctantly agrees with his coleague! I arranged to to see him anyway, though.
The good thing I’ve found is that I actually have HMO + PPO with my insurance that I am continuing from my last employer. I will be covered by this insurance plan until the end of September. After that, I will have another health insurance plan(sucky HMO) from my current employer (if I am still working then). Wow, what a bad timing to be diagnosed with cancer! Between jobs and between health insurances.
Anyway, so with my current plan, if I decide to go somewhere else for a second opinion or even treatment, I can. I just have to pay more for co-pays and deductible.
So, I was calling, calling, calling everywhere I can think of that may give me a good through evaluation and possibly treatment. A lot of good places have a long waiting list, and they couldn’t give me timely appointments. I don’t know how my condition really is, but my surgeon told me that I should not wait too long for a surgery. He wanted to have a surgery within next two weeks, so I know I don’t have forever to shop around for a doctor.
I am lucky, I think, I was able to finally score a timely appointment with a doctor at Cedars-Sinai’s Breast Center! Yay! I am going to see her on Friday next week. I know waiting for 10 more days may jeopardize my health (I really don’t think so, though), but I would feel so much better being evaluated and recommended by a doctor at Cedars-Sinai instead of going with the original recommendation from my surgeon. At least I will have a peace of mind knowing double masectomy is a must.
I am a little worried, though, I have to take a few days off already from my work to go to all these appointments. This week alone, I have an appointment with an oncologist and a 2nd surgeon from my medical group. It is inevitable that I will need a week or more for a surgery. I am starting to think that it may be better for me to just quit my job so that I will not be a burden to my employer. My type of job requires regularity since I do need to see clients every week.
Fighting just to start fighting cancer (I hope it makes sense), 
7 comments)
Stacey 
Thanks for your support -
Thanks for posting on my blog. I will give you some encouragement. I had a 6 cm tumor with lymph node involvement. I am 15 months out. I endured a double mastectomy with reconstruction and I am happy with the choice.
Just remember you can survive. Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.
Melissa
Hi YuYu,
Number 1…dont quit your job! Let them fire you if it comes down to it. Not that this is a goal… but you can at least get unemployment…or even disability. Also, go to the financial assistance group at the hospital you will be getting treatment from. My boyfriend had been laid off due to a corporate downsizing and had only temporary insurance ( like cobra) that was going to only last 6 months. When I talked to the financial counselor about his situation she submitted the information and all care/treatments are at no cost to him as long as they are performed by the doctors in that facility. That does not include prescriptions…but still it was quite a relief. Dont give up in that area! There is financial help out there…and this web site is a wonderful place for support.
Celeni
What a stressful day for you. Everything will work out for you, I am praying for you. You should not quit your job. I agree if it comes down to it they can lay you off and then you will get unemployment and benefits from the state.
Keeping in my prayers.
Sonia
YuYu,
If you think in any way it is IBC then you must find out for sure if it is inflammatory breast cancer because the treatment procedure is different. Surgery comes last if at all. Do some research online for symptoms. I have inflammatory breast cancer and it involves fever in the breast, inflammation, swelling, itchiness, does not show up on a mammogram, appears as breast infection or bump/bruising. It is very important that surgery is not done first as it can cause the cancer to spread more quickly through the lymph system. IBC is a very rare form of breast cancer but it does happen. It will give you peace of mind to find out more information. I will be sending you good thoughts for positive news.
Thank you, Nanci.
The scary thing about it is that I have all these symptoms you have described. My mass did not show up in mammograms either. The most scariest thing is that my breast has been changing day by day. I know with IBC, things can quickly get worse and time is crucial. I did ask my surgeon if mine may be IBC, the only thing he said is “it may be”. I am going to an oncologist tomorrow and will insist on finding out if it is IBC or not.
Yuyu
http://yuyu.blogforacure.com/weblog/2008/08/19/0003
I found this sight for you.
Sonia
Hi, Sonia. The link you gave me does not work for some reasons (it comes back to my own page). Is there any other link address?
Yuyu