karen335

It usually is for older people. Once you are Stage IV, you become eligable for Medicare, just like SSD , Stage IV is eligiable for SSD money. My private insurance I had was Cobra from my former employer. It runs out the end of April. 36 months

Not sure where to post this question. How does Medicare A & B work with Medigap or supplimental insurance. I have had an HMO for the last 3 yrs and all my medical expenses have been paid through there (HMO, Cobra) It runs out end of the month (April), They called me, insurance. No advance letter or anything. My question is, how do I do this and make sure I am selecting full coverage. I can't pay a lot out of pocket. What does everyone else on Medicare do, your suggestion and what you have done would be greatly appreciated. Thanks All, Blessings and prayers, Karen

Linda, Does this mean I have to pay all doctors up front and wait on Medicare and supplimental insurance to pay me back? I am really dumb when it comes to insurance.. What if people can't afford to pay up front. I can, but I shouldn't have to. We already pay enough. We are going to have to go to a National Healthcare System.. The Middle class get taken to the cleaners again. We are doing their job for them (ins. Co's).

Roger, You just keep a positive attitude, stay active and keep the faith and you will beat this disease. Our Lord doesn't give us any more than we can handle. Just give it to Him and keep up the good fight. We are all here to root you on and support you... God Bless and prayers, Karen

Linda, Thank you very much. I guess I should look into a supplimentsl insurance. To pick up what Medicare doesn't cover, like maybe Cigna (I have that now HMO) or Blue Cross. I read somewhere about asking physicians about assignments. It means they accept what Medicare pays them as payment in full. Do you know anything about that? Appreciate your help, Karen

Not sure where to post this question. How does Medicare A & B work with Medigap or supplimental insurance. I have had an HMO for the last 3 yrs and all my medical expenses have been paid through there (HMO, Cobra) It runs out end of the month (April), They called me, insurance. No advance letter or anything. My question is, how do I do this and make sure I am selecting full coverage. I can't pay a lot out of pocket. What does everyone else on Medicare do, your suggestion and what you have done would be greatly appreciated. Thanks All, Blessings and prayers, Karen[/b]

Thank You Randy, I believe in the power of healing from Jesus. Before I had any treatment back in 2003 when I was DX'd. Bob and I traveled to the Healing Rooms in Santa Maria, California. It is part of Seattle's Healing Rooms. It is quite a Spiritual feeling. It is very tranquil and filled with the Holy Spirit. The presence of Jesus and healing is very powerful. I tuly give all the glory to God for my healing and my doctors' only assisted Jesus with my healing. I tell my doctors' this all the time. They agree with me.. God Bless, Karen Look up Santa Maria Healing Rooms

Thanks Randy... Interesting, sounds pretty toxic.

Congrats!!! How do they contact you for these articles. Are you referred? Glad they found you, need all the exposure we can get... We need a cure!!! Thank You, Karen

Carleen and Keith, Sending you prayers and total healing. God hears our prayers. God Bless, Karen

Tami, Sending more prayers that Charlie continues to get better. Glad to hear he was able to come home and his O2 has stabilized... God Bless, Karen

Lindy, I was on Decadron (steroid) from Nov. 05 til just a couple of weeks ago. The steroid will make you swell in neck, face, stomach and legs. It retains water in the soft tissue of the body. It really bloats a person and the longer on them the more it bloats you. Remember how bloated Jerry Lewis was? It was from the steroids his doctor's had him taking. Ask your doctor and maybe he can suggest a diruretic to reduce the swelling. Then he'll have to eat a banana every day so his Potassium levels don't drop... I am not a doctor, please discuss with his doctor. Wishing you the best and in my prayers... Karen

Thank you Roger. Sending you and Jacquiline prayers for a total healing. By His stripes, you are healed and we claim that healing... God Bless, karen

The Gynecologist A middle-aged woman seemed sheepish as she visited her gynecologist. "Come now," coaxed the doctor, "you've been seeing me for years! There's nothing you can't tell me." "This one's kind of strange..." "Let me be the judge of that," the doctor replied. "Well," she said, "yesterday I went to the bathroom in the morning and heard a plink-plink-plink in the toilet and when I looked down, the water was full of pennies." "I see." "That afternoon I went to the bathroom again and, plink-plink-plink, there were nickels in the bowl." "That night," she went on, "I went again, plink-plink-plink, and there were dimes and this morning there were quarters! You've got to tell me what's wrong with me!," she implored,"I'm scared out of my wits!" The gynecologist put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "There, there, it's nothing to be scared about." (Ready for this?) > > > > > "You're simply going through the change!"

Hi Barbara, I too had U. Colitis when I was 19-20yrs old. Lost a lot of weight. Went to Barnes Hospital/Washington University ~~ St. Louis, MO Was put on Lomatil and it basically cured it. Do you have Psoriasis? I was dx'd W/Psoriasis four years later. Everything is clear now. They wanted to put me on Methotrexate I now wonder if all these diseases are related. They are all autoimmune diseases and produce too many cells, now LC. HMMMM... Interesting, what do you think? Prayers, Karen

Mary, Thinking about you and lifting you up in prayer... God Bless and hugs, Karen

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fc ... 5016#25017

Joanie, Wish I had an answer about the memory thing. Have you had a recent MRI. That would be something you could request from your doctor . Then maybe go from there. Is the insurance provided by your employer or do you have to pay for it. The reason I ask is, maybe you can purchase the insurance independently. Karen

Carcinoembryonic Antigen Tumor marker, CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein found in many types of cells but associated with tumors and the developing fetus. CEA is tested in blood. The normal range is <2.5 ng/ml in an adult non-smoker and <5.0 ng/ml in a smoker. The CEA was one of the first oncofetal antigens to be described and exploited clinically. It is a complex glycoprotein of molecular weight 20,000, that is associated with the plasma membrane of tumor cells, from wich it may be released into the blood. Although CEA was first indentified in colon cancer, an abnormal CEA blood level is specific neither for colon cancer nor for malignancy in general. Elevated CEA levels are found in a variety of cancers other than colonic, including pancreatic, gastric, lung, and breast. It is also detected in benign conditions including cirrhosis, inflamatory bowel disease, chronic lung disease, and pancreatitis. The CEA was found to be elevated in up to 19 percent of smokers and in 3 percent of a healthy control population. Thus, the test for CEA cannot substitute for a pathological diagnosis. As a screening test, the CEA is also inadequate. Since cancer prevalence in a healthy population is low, an elevated CEA has an unacceptably low positive predictive value, with excess false positives. Also, since elevated CEA occurs in the advanced stage of incurable cancer but is low in the early, curable disease, the likelihood of a positive result affecting a patient's survival is diminished. The CEA has been sugested as having prognostic value for patients with colon cancer. Preoperative CEA values have been positively correlated with stage and negatively correlated with disease free survival. Although not satisfactory for screening a healthy population, CEA has been used to monitor recurrence. Early data suggested that CEA prededed clinical relapse by several months. Subsequently, several investigators have examined intensive, serial CEA monitoring as an indicator for second look surgery in the hope that relapse could be detected at a time when surgical ressection for cure was still possible. Criteria for reoperation included a significant rise of CEA above a base line level on serial determinations and absence of obvious unresectable disease on staging workup. Determinations of CEA should be done frequently: at a minimum of every 3 months and if possible every 1 month to 2 months. Elevations above baseline should be verified rapidly to exclude laboratory error. The CEA is of some use as a monitor in treatment. Usually the CEA returns to normal within 1 to 2 months of surgery, but if it returns elevated persistent disease may be indicated. The test is not infallible in patients treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy but can be useful in those whose tumor is not measurable. The CEA is often positive in malignancies other than colonic. In cancer of the breast, lung, pancreas, stomach, and ovary the CEA may be elevated and can be used to monitor the progress of disease or response to treatement

Petie, Please listen to what Don said. Get a 2nd opinion. Is the LC stable? Does your MIL feel good? Is she in any pain? Please let us know so we can try and help you... Blessings snd prayers, Karen PS ~~~ I have had two brain Surgeries, each person is different though...

Tom, Thinking of you and sending you many prayers for a speedy recovery and healing. Please let us know how you are doing... Karen

Two Old Farts Two old men decide they are close to their last days and decide to have a last night on the town After a few drinks, they end up at the local brothel. The Madam takes one look at the two old geezers and whispers to her manager, "Go up to the first two bedrooms and put an inflated doll in each bed. These two are so old and drunk, I'm not wasting two of my girls on them. They won't know the difference." The manager does as he is told and the two old men go upstairs and take care of their business. As they are walking home the first man says, "You know, I think my girl was dead!" "Dead?" says his friend, "why would you say that?" "Well, she never moved or made a sound all the time I was loving her." His friend says, "I think mine was a witch." "A witch, why the hell would you say that?" "Well, I was making love to her, kissing her on the neck, and I gave her a little bite, then she farted and flew out the window."

Patty, Welcome!! Do you have any other information? So that we can help you, like non small cell, small cell. Did they give your dad a stage or mention treatment... If not maybe he needs to get a 2nd opinion. Get copies of his tests from the doctors and scans from where he had them done. Once we know a little more. I am sure you will get a lot of support and help here from others too. Prayers and hugs, Karen

Hi Lori, I wish I had an answer for you. I was on Decadron too (1mg per day, then .5 every day for 2 weeks, then down to .125 for a week, then .125 every other day for a week, then .125 every 2 days for a week, now I'm off WoooHooo.) Not as high as your mom, I am too sensitive with it. Since your mom has been on it so long, she may be very sensitive to it also, maybe they are weaning her off too fast and her body or mind is in withdrawl. Just a suggestion. I had that problem. Had to go back on it and up the dose. It's a good idea to check with the neurosurgeon though... Please keep us posted, God Bless and prayers, Luv Ya and Hugs, Karen

Thanks Randy.. Very interesting read. I love reading and learning as much as I can. I want to be prepared.. Karen