Starting chemo July 2014
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This is not getting easier for anybody is it. It is mentally, emotionally and physically tougher every day. Please hold on, we must get through this.0 -
Dancingdiva- I applied for FMLA and STD (short term disability) at the same time for Cancer and it was accepted. The FMLA protected my job upto 12 weeks. The STD pays me a portion of my pay every week. If I stay off the whole month of October (a total of 120 days) my STD will automatically go into LTD. And yes, Cancer is a reason for LTD per my benefits. When I selected my benefits last year, I happen to select LTD which I recommend everyone do (if available by your employer). So I am paying for the LTD benefit. If I did not have it and was still off work, I would have to apply for Social Security Benefits. But, I don't think BC stage I, II, or III qualify for SSI. So, without LTD I guess you are on your own (scary thought).Each employers benefits are different. My last employees STD was good for One year before it went into LTD. But, that was a union company and had way better benefits.
If anyone else knows differently, please advise.
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Hi all....thought I'll add my depressing story too....I got laid off today. I'm a consultant and work on projects...and the project I was working on didn't get funded for next yr. The fiscal yr starts Nov 1st....so am getting paid till end of month (company being nice).
I also didn't get paid for the 2 weeks I was in the hospital....and now the bills are rolling in. Although I got admitted to the hospital via the ER (in network)...if out of network docs saw me or consulted...I might be responsible for their bills. I have BCBS insurance....anyone have experience with this???
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Jennliza - I'm so sorry to hear that. My hubby and I have been contractors for an engineering company for years, so understand the off again on again aspect of this kind of employment. Any chance of a new assignment? Can you keep insurance in place?0 -
Jennliza -- very sorry to hear about your job loss.... Talk about one more depressing thing to deal with.... OY! RE: BCBS, I'm on OK BCBS, but I'm not sure my plan is anything like yours. Heck, my DH is also on an OK BCBS plan, and his doesn't always match up with mine (different employer, different plan).
How much you might owe out-of-network doctors depends on the details of your specific plan. My plan is a PPO (preferred provider org) which will pay for out-of-network services, but it reimburses at a lower rate than in-network services. So far, I have burned through my deductibles for both in-network and out-of-network services. I have also maxed out on the maximum allowable out-of-pocket payments I'm required to pay for this calendar year. Hence, when I get infusions or see the doctor, I don't pay anything right now -- no co-pays, nothing. In fact, if I get my operation(s) before the end of the year, my insurance company will have to pay in full and I will pay nothing. But, if my operation gets put off until January, I will have to blow through my deductibles and pay my percentages until I max out on my allowable out-of-pocket payments again. But, that's my plan. Check your plan, and see what it allows.
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wow, I always miss so much. I had my mom staying with me for a few days so I didn't check in.
Glad to hear about the surgery discussions. I'm in the same boat trying to figure out what to do. My oncologist said it was my decision and the insurance would pay for a bmx. I am meeting with plastic surgeon in 2 weeks to learn about the options then will have final ultrasound and MRI to see how much the tumor shrank. I also have a lot of calcifications and the onco said they definitely have to come out so I'm thinking lumpectomy will probably not be an option for me anyways. I am leaning towards bmx and reconstruction because I am worried that in a few years, if I don't do reconstruction, I will be bummed and maybe the insurance won't pay for it then, not sure how that works.
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pinkninja - Can you get to keep the nipples with bmx? Is that the abreviation for mastectomy? I'm not sure I understand how much will be left. Forgive my ignorance, I just had a lumpectomy, followed by 4 TCH infusions, then external beam full breast rads. This means of course that should my cancer return, I will have to have a mastectomy next time. From what I have read here, some surgeons leave more skin than others. I think I would want to do reconstruction. If no nipple is left then I guess tatoos would have to take the place. My understanding is that my insurance would even cover to make the other breast match the reconstructed breast. But I would question if it would be covered in the future, if you decide to put it off for a while. You might see if you could get something in writing from your insurance company. Good luck with that one. One thing is for certain, you would have to meet your deductible again - mine is $5,500! Gggrrr....
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blown away - My surgeon is not in favor of nipple sparing mastectomy in the case of ductal cancer because the ducts lead to the nipple. He thinks it adds an unnecessary future risk.A law was passed in the mid 1990s about what insurance companies are required to pay for when dealing with breast cancer. My understanding is that it includes future issues such as reconstruction and keeping the girls symmetrical. Did you know that special bras are covered too? with a prescription.
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I have pneumonia. Just got back from 6-1/2 hours in ER.
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oh no you guys so many things going on
Mags I am so sorry about the pneumonia and ER. How are you doing?
Jennliza - you have gone through so much and now to be laid off completely stinks. So very sorry
Chaos I hope you can do a masectomy and just get all of the nasty C out of there.
Rain feel better soon
I am sending many good thoughts to everyone.
Nancy
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Oh Mags -- I hope you get better soon. Chemo's bad enough; being short of breath and wheezy doesn't make it any better.
I'm going to bed early tonight! Yay! I finished grading my midterms! I'm one-third of the way through the heaviest part of my grading for the semester. What a relief. I hate grading.
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Mags: you're in my prayers, so sorry about pneumonia now on top of everything else
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Sending out healing vibes and prayers for all you who are struggling. And, as always, gentle hugs.
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mags, hope u r feeling better now that u r out of ER
Seems like you ladies in the US have so many options when dealing in insurance whether u have a job or not. You guys have so many acronyms, I've lost track. here in Canada, as far as I know, if u work u have STD and/or LTD with your employer. My new employer, which I got 1 week before being diagnosed, super luck, has no STD so I'm on Employment insurance which only lasts for 15 weeks. That's sickness leave....15wks,!!! It's absurd. Now I have to apply for LTD, which will prob be denied , so I'm done. The disability pension plan I think is only for terminally disabled people. So I will have no financing for the coming months. I hear you Jenn.
Tomorrow is bloods for round 2 of taxol. Hope the nurse doesn't kill me again with the port needle....despite using EMLA.
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Hi ladies
Just want to say hi, I was in and out of the hospital since last tusday had so much pain in my stomach . To make a long story short Gallbladder stones I had to take my gallbladder because was inflammated and have being very tired and with pain. Now I discover a hernia on the bely button I think is because I have lifted something heavy ...
I'm hanging here I hope everybody gets better . I read everything and want to say thanks for Coyote kind words and wish Mag's that she gets well soon .
Sorry to here about everyone else struggle .. It's being a though time on us
God help us ...
XO
Andy
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Mags - Oh my. That's just not what we want to hear. How did that come about? Are your WBCs holding up ok?0
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blownaway, bmx is bilateral mastectomy and I'm not sure they'll do nipple sparing or not. I will get all the facts when I go to the ps in 2 weeks.I'm leaning towards bmx because I don't want it to come back
Mags, sorry about the pneumonia, I couldn't sleep last night due to the steroids so I prayed for you and for everyone else on here
Getting ready for #5 today and can't wait til it's over so I can say I only have 1 more to go!!!
My fingernails and toenails are starting to hurt and I've got weird ridges near my cuticle now. I'll probably lose a few but they'll grow back
Hope everyone getting ready for next thx has minimal se's
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Pinkninja, I only slept until 4, so I was praying for all of you as well. Coyote, my blood work is good, ER doc said my white count looks like I've got sufficient to fight this, no neutropenia. And it is apparently a pretty mild case, didn't even show on the X-ray but did on CT with dye. They hung a bag of antib and I have more to take at home, and an inhaler. I expect to beat this PDQ. After all, I'm beating cancer, and that is a much tougher adversary, right?
Pink, the nail beds on my thumbnails are purple. Pretty nasty looking.
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mags, my nails aren't purple but they are very sore and they are starting to get ridges.
I'm getting my infusion now and my labs show that I'm still anemic so I have to have a transfusion soon. No wonder I can barely walk up the stairs or outside.
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Mommymel -- I had my gallbladder out 10 years ago because a stone escaped, blocked my bile duct, and gave me pancreatitis, a very painful condition. Thankfully, gallbladder surgery is relatively low impact these days, and recovery went well, though I was more tired than I expected. Best wishes for a speedy recovery for you. A hernia, though. Ugh. If it's not one thing, it's another.
Mags -- glad to hear that your pneumonia is mild and that your WBCs are holding up. Again, best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Pinkninja -- we are always in the chair on the same day. I'm supposed to be getting Taxol/Herceptin#4 today, along with Perjeta#2. Hope it goes well for you so you can say, "Only one more!"
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As far as work, nothing on the horizon yet, but have started contacting friends/recruiters, etc. Hopefully, I'll find something soon.
PinkNinja - regarding nipple sparring....it can be right for some if cancer is far enough away from nipple. I had DCIS too close to nipple..so no SPM for me, though one top surgeon here in NYC recommended it...didn't address the the un-biopsied calcifications close to my nipple. One thing to consider...if done well...you should not have any feeling in them after surgery.
I had BMX...and waiting for my surgery to be scheduled @thanksgiving. I am hoping I can get some fat grafting before the new year...because as someone pointed out, the deductible starts again.
And the good news is...:I called my BCBS and the reason why I am getting bills is b/c the hospital hasn't submitted theirs so the computer doesn't understand why doctor bills are coming in...not linked to the ER/hospital stay. They are calling the hospital to remedy the situation!!! Phew!
Mags....sorry about the pneumonia...glad it's not too bad! Hope you are healing well.
Mommymel - ouch that sounds painful! Speedy recovery as well!!!
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for info...read what's in your makeup, nail and hair care products....consider going all natural/organic!!!
http://greenlivingonline.com/article/six-makeup-chemicals-avoid
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mommynel - You are one lucky lady! When I had my gallbladder removed in conjunction with my second mastectomy, my surgeon told me that gallbladder complications and chemo can be a fatal combination. Hug your doctor!I had ridges on my nails last time. They grew out. I iced then, and now. I have a slight graying on my thumb beds now. I don't know how that will end up. I read that it can continue to develop after chemo ends.
Mags - Will the pneumonia delay #6?
Pink - The exhaustion is currently my big deal. I can't get up the stairs on my own without stopping and laying in the steps for a bit. Fortunately they are not outside! Hubby helps me exercise by walking me through the house and holding my arm. Weak as a wet Kleenex.
Take care all.
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Coyote, that remains to be seen. The antibiotics are a 5 day run so I'll be through before, but I'll talk to MO before then.
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Elaine Therese, Jennliza, CoyoteNV thanks for the Wellness wishes i feel draines right now but il né fine!
Praying for you guys
XO
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hi everyone,
What a rough mess we've all got our selves into :-(
Mags - pneumonia. Really?? Ugh. Wishing a quick recovery for you.
Mommymel - omg. So glad you are in recovery now. Can't believe all this at once!!
Chaos - hang in there strong lady. And keep us in the loop - we are all thinking of you!
Jennliza - so crappy on the job front. Anything practically this group can do? What kind of contracting are you looking for?
I am home - like mags on 2 kinds of antibiotics, both heavy duty. Everyone is hoping infection clears by Friday when I will go back for another ultrasound. Not really sure what the game plan is if not..
I had a BMX and tissue expanders before chemo. I chose it for the same reasons many of you did. While I understand long term survival rates are the same, and tested BRCA negative (much to everyone's shock), I have a horrible family history and am a high need for control, relatively anxious type A personality. Even the thought of the six month scanxiety makes me want to throw up. So I went aggressive.
As for reconstruction - I am young and even in clothes I want to look 'normal', especially at work where I have not told a lot of people (this is also why I cold capped - which worked really well for me). I didn't want to mess around with prosthesis. And I did have nipple sparing - tumor was over 9cm from nipples so no one was concerned.
I guess my word of warning is that my multiple infections and hospitalizations have been tissue expander related. This is always a risk with implants, especially during chemo. I am optimistic post exchange the cycle won't continue - but there are no guarantees. I can say my PS is hugely relieved I am done with chemo now :-)
Best to you all,
Rain
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Coyote: wet Kleenix - that describes it exactly! Have you looked into borrowing a walker short term? Our cancer society office didn't have walkers, but recommended a state disability office locally that checks out at no fee canes and walkers for 3 months. I checked one out after chemo #3 in anticipation of #4 being worse, but then MO decreased my last dose and I didn't get as weak. Won't return it though till I see what happens with rads.
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Puffin - I actually own both a walker and a pushable wheel chair. The idea of going there terrifies me. I am what would be called by most, "senior". Using a walker would be like giving up - admitting that I'm a frail old lady. Other than my warped brain...it's a good idea.
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Coyote -- My 60+ year old SIL is the same way re: walkers and wheelchairs. She has MS, and her walking has been gradually deteriorating in recent years. But, she will only use a cane because she fears that if she stops using her legs, her mobility will just get worse. On the one hand, I admire her because she is still trying to use her muscles and keep her legs going. On the other hand, she fell this year and had to call my other SIL to come help her up (fortunately, she wasn't injured other than some bumps and bruises). But, SIL lives alone and you have your DH, so that may be less of a concern.
Well, I had Taxol/Herceptin #4 and Perjeta #2 today. It's sort-of ruined my dinner appetite (too bad, a colleague from work brought over a nice baked ziti). But, there was good news: my BCRA results came back and I tested negative. So, no hysterectomy and maybe a lumpectomy. MO could barely feel a lump at all, so we're hoping the shrinking has continued. Of course, we'll only be able to confirm any shrinkage with an MRI, but the visible/tactile changes have been promising.
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I had #5 today so I can say only one more to go!!! I am so excited. Only bad news I got today was my hgb droppedd to 7.9 so I am going in Friday for a blood transfusion. I knew I was feeling more fatigued lately and I had to lay down alot last week. Hopefully the transfusion will help me from feeling so bad in the next few weeks.
As for surgery, I was just reading my latest MRI report and it looks like the calcifications I have are far away from the tumor so I don't think lumpectomy is gonna work for me. I will feel so much better once I meet with the PS.
Hope everyone is doing well.
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