LisaA

Curt, great news on the staging! I hope that you are feeling well and gaining strength! 

HI Barb,
I finished my radiation treatment last Wednesday, and I have a cough that has been progressively developing as well. In addition, I have been feeling generally tired. I had hoped that I would be able to call Dr and ask for an early return to work, but not being this tired!  I do not have chest tightness though.  Is it a possibility that you are developing pneumonitis? Your dr will be able to answer this question.  I am hoping that you start to feel perfect in the days ahead! 

OK well all done with treatment number 1....i didn't feel a thing. I was just  trying to relax and pray that everything would be  OK.  Can't wait to get home and  relax

OK well all done with treatment number 1....i didn't feel a thing. I was just  trying to relax and pray that everything would be  OK.  Can't wait to get home and  relax

Hi Barb, I hope you're feeling better! I go today for my first SBRT radiation treatment and I'm feeling very nervous.  My insurance did not approve the  proton therapy but my Dr feels that the  SBRT is more curative so we are gong down that path. Prayers please! Hoping you are doing great! 

Congratulations!
 

Hi Barb, such great news and so encouraging! I'm so glad that you are having such a positive response to killing off all those cancer cells! Keep up the great work!
Are you receiving Photon (aka SBRT or cyberknife) or Proton Beam radiation treatment? I'm facing one of these treatments myself, just waiting to hear from insurance on IF they will approve the very pricey Proton Radiation Therapy.  How many total radiation treatments will you be receiving? I will be getting 5 treatments of high dose radiation photon radiation treatment OR 15 treatments via the Proton radiation therapy. 
Keep up the healing! I love your positivity!!!!

I am totally amazed at what the radiologist showed me on the computer screen today.  Before-Tumor the size of a lemon, After 4 1/2 weeks, the size of a quarter and the swollen lymph node is almost gone.   If only our bodies could tolerate radiation until its completely gone, none of us would have to go through the stress!!!

Today's results: NED! The SBRT I had in September continues to work its magic. I'll scan again in 4 months instead of 3. Super Doc says he doesn't have a standard to follow for my case because it's been a little unusual.
This leads perfectly into next week's 3 year cancerversary.  
 

I'm home from a emotional day, but a day without pain at least.  The current plan is targeted radiation therapy only. Surgery not being done, no need for chemo at this time. So I guess all in all, it is a very hopeful situation. Keeping focused and as upbeat as I can!  Final staging was set today as 2A due to the size of the mass, not due to any outside new activity on my recent PET scan. Prayers and good thoughts would be wonderfully welcomed! 

Here at the cancer center for radiation simulation. Wondering what to expect. Getting the little tattoos etc. 
Still looking into the approval of proton radiation therapy, but starting with this for mapping today

Hi Lisa
I’m sure you’re totally exhausted.  The treatment plan is coming together and the path forward is becoming more clear. Have faith in God, your treatment team and most importantly yourself.  You’re strong and well positioned to pull through this time.  My prayers are with you!  
Michelle 

Here at the cancer center for radiation simulation. Wondering what to expect. Getting the little tattoos etc. 
Still looking into the approval of proton radiation therapy, but starting with this for mapping today

Hoping all goes well for you Lisa! 

Thank you Lexie. As a result of your informative link, I did contact our employer plan administrator today to see if they could do something to get this approved. Thanks for the great info!
 

Thank you Lexie. As a result of your informative link, I did contact our employer plan administrator today to see if they could do something to get this approved. Thanks for the great info!
 

Lisa,
I've been to several symposiums on precision radiation and proton beam therapy.  Understand that precision radiation uses ionizing radiation (gamma rays) that are narrowly focused.  Proton Beam Therapy uses non ionizing accelerated protons that are narrowly focused.  Both kill tumors.  There are two significant differences: cost and the amount of tissue surrounding the tumor that is damaged.  Proton beam therapy is very, very precise.  It is often used in very young children as a way to minimize as much collateral tissue damage as possible.  But, proton therapy is extremely expensive and precision radiation can often accomplish the same result at much reduced cost.
I'd ask your radiation oncologist why proton beam therapy and would precision radiation like CyberKnife, for example, accomplish the same objective.  If the oncologist really believes proton beam is necessary, he or she has to provide a lot of ammunition to battle insurance.  
Stay the course.
Tom

Hi Lisa, 
Insurance!  Total nightmare!  Aetna just had a $25 million settlement for denying radiation treatment that they deemed experimental in Oklahoma this year.  I would have your doctor file a prior authorization request outlining the medical rationale for this treatment.  If the prior authorization request is denied, then an appeal can be filed (and should be).  The final level of appeal is an Independent Review Organization (IRO).  The insurance companies lose the majority of IRO appeals.   
I think Aetna might be a little gun shy about denying treatment to cancer patients as the jury award was intended to send a very strong message.   
See if you can find out if your employer is self insured.  If so, your employer may elect to instruct Aetna to pay the claim on an "extra-contractual agreement". 
If all else fails, the hospital has a financial team that will be able to assist you.  Please do not make any out of pocket expenditures until you have exhausted the appeals process and employer extra-contractual agreements.   
These requests are reviewed very quickly-usually within a matter of "a few days".   Ugh.  
The insurance process is really terrible (my Foundation One claim has now been denied three times!! IRO here we come.... 🙁
Michelle 

I just found this: https://www.proton-therapy.org/patient-resources/insurance/.
No idea how legit the information is, nor, of course, am I in a position to know what the best treatment for YOU might be, but figured I'd pass it along in the event you want to pursue it.

For what it's worth, here's what Aetna says about Proton Radiation Therapy: http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/200_299/0270.html.
It's pretty long, I didn't read the whole thing, but it appears to boil down to their conclusion that there's insufficient evidence that it's more effective than more conventional radiation for lung cancer.  It IS approved for some other cancers.

Hoping that it is all perfectly wonderful!
 

HI Michelle,
It's turned into a more complicated thing than I originally hoped for. The oncologist reached out to the lung surgeon I had been seeing and he and she decided that I now need a bronchoscopy before anything is started. (Ugh, more and more time before treatment starts! Getting so frustrated!)  I was able to get that scheduled for one week from today. 
I talked to radiation oncology office today, now they need me to establish a relationship with a pulmonologist before they can start radiation to optimize my lung function.  So scheduling a new patient office visit puts me in the middle of Feb. 
It is just delay after delay for tasks that could have been done earlier. It's now been 8 weeks since diagnosis and time is ticking and I'm getting more symptomatic day by day.
Thank you for thinking of me on this day, I'm touched that you remembered! 

Great news! I'm sure you are relieved! Such great news!

Great news! I'm sure you are relieved! Such great news!

Hi Lisa
Its all part of the process.  All told it took about me two months to get rolling on my treatment plan.  The more diagnostics going into this will result in a better outcome for you. I know it’s so frustrating to do all this waiting.  You’re in the home stretch now.  See if you can figure out who your nurse case manager is.  Mine is awesome & she took care of all the scheduling & coordination of the treatment team.   Keep us posted.  Thinking & praying for you! 
Michelle