Because the not knowing, for me, was worse than what I was already going through.

to the anxiety caused by the waiting and uncertainty. It would be nice if they could get together sort of a package that was ready for anyone newly diagnosed with cancer, that would guide the patient through exactly what was happening and would automate some of these things we have to wait for.

but this (bad thing) only happens in less than 1% of cases, so no need to go into it.

Then I hit Bingo! as a less than 1 percenter. I excelled at it.

Which left me waiting and not knowing at several turns.

Excellent insurance, fortunately. I'm grateful for that.

but I think these days were all in the same boat. About a month ago I went to e.r. for chest pain, insurance said they won't pay because I had symptoms for more than 72 hours. I didn't go until I felt pain in my left shoulder and neck. I'm waiting for the answer to the appeal. I asked am I supposed to go every time I feel a little pain just to make sure it's paid?

I had a PET scan 3/4 of the way through chemo. Originally the insurance denied it. My doctor called their doctor and found out how to modify the order to get approved. Strangely, they'd only do it if he ordered the MORE expensive procedure. Go figure. Oh, and the co-pay was $2600.

if the lymph nodes show cancer cells. $2600! Wow. Both my surgeon and a friend who's a retired radiologist tell me that the same information can be gained from other scans (CAT and bone scans are two of them), so I'm not so bent out of shape over the denial. Until I read your post, my big objection was that there would be a co-pay for each of the multiple scans (I think the CAT was $250) instead of one co-pay for the PET.

stay strong and be sure to give your caregiver a big hug.

Actually, the woman I spoke to at the insurance company couldn't have been nicer. She sounded genuinely upset that my request had been denied, and I ended up sort of comforting her because I knew I could get other scans that would be approved.

My husband gets too many hugs already! --just kidding; he's a peach.

My wife was my rock. She made sure I made it to and from my chemo and radiation. She steadied me when walking to the Cancer center. She pushed my wheelchair when a cane no longer did the job.

..two 'worrisome' masses on one of his kidneys. we are both scared to death. Hes got a good job but doesnt get medicare for 6 mos yet.

I had kidney cancer in 2014, and it's scary. But the treatment was surgery only, so there's no drawn-out treatment if he has cancer, and if it's like mine.

I'll be holding you in my thoughts.