Anna Marie has Breast Cancer

[allyisyourpally5]

I feel like other Fundies who use Samaritan (the Jeubs possibly?) have mentioned that there is an upper limit on what can be claimed and I feel like it was $250,000? I would have thought cancer treatments would certainly total more than that, although I suppose claiming for each individual one would be less each time? 
 

would being Maxwells make them quite popular in Samaritan Land and therefore lead to better donations? It’s up to all members how much they chip in I thought.
 

I know they also, as Samaritans, are required to haggle the money down as much as possible? How low can a hospital go for things like Chemo?! The amount of specialists required too.....and I think they initially have to pay up front?

pardon my ignorance, I’m from the UK, so we have that evil socialist healthcare (I love our NHS) but like many Brits, it’s perfectly true to say I have no real clue how much one hospital treatment costs. I’m pretty sure though as an exCancer patient myself I’ve used more NHS money then I’ve put in the system. I did live in America for 2 years, however am lucky that I never really had to use my health insurance (only one doctors appointment and one set of eye drops)

[kpmom]

23 minutes ago, allyisyourpally5 said:

 

would being Maxwells make them quite popular in Samaritan Land and therefore lead to better donations? It’s up to all members how much they chip in I thought.
 

I know they also, as Samaritans, are required to haggle the money down as much as possible? How low can a hospital go for things like Chemo?! The amount of specialists required too.....and I think they initially have to pay up front?

 

A member here who was on Samaritan in the past said everyone is required to pay a certain amount every month.  I'm not sure if they pay it to Samaritan or directly to the person in need.

Samaritan sounds like a huge headache.  I'm trying to picture going through a major illness (or having a child who is ill and needs NICU care, as Nathan and Melanie did) and then having to haggle prices and wait for donations, or premiums, or whatever they call them, to come rolling in.

I agree, my understanding was there was a $250,000 cap too, which seems like it would be reached fairly quickly these days.

[Dandruff]

Wasn't Anna Marie scheduled to see another surgeon today?

[SoSoNosy]

My cancer treatment (six months of chemo) was forecast to cost $27,000, but since I have Medicare and a supplement there would be 0 cost to me.

One thing that really, really bothered me was that they took me to the privacy of the financial part of the oncology clinic to tell me that.  BUT.. they came out to the lady who was sitting beside me at the time (she is there every three weeks, for her whole life) to ask her if she had applied for Medicaid.  She said she had, and was turned down; they told her she had to get documentation on that so that they could get her on their private medical aid program.  Why would they take me into a private place to tell me that I wouldn't owe anything, and then tell her how bad her insurance (or lack thereof) was?

[PennySycamore]

@SoSoNosy, that is really uncalled for the hospital to not respect that woman's privacy.  They just did not give a shit if they embarrassed her, did they?

[PennySycamore]

4 hours ago, Dandruff said:

Wasn't Anna Marie scheduled to see another surgeon today?

I can't remember if she was or not.  How old is the baby now?  I can't imagine that Anna Marie started nursing the baby even a little because the surgeons would want her milk to dry up before surgery.  Surgery is possible on a lactating breast, but it's easier on a breast that isn't producing milk.  Anna Marie would also not be nursing after surgery either as chemo and breastfeeding are incompatible as are nursing and radioactive therapy agents, although the weaning with radio agents is only for most of them is five half-lives.  it might be possible to Anna Marie  to re-lactate after treatment is over, but I bet her doctors would not advise it.  It can be difficult and she might just have to wean again if things go south again.  

[keepercjr]

On 1/28/2020 at 2:27 PM, kpmom said:

I agree, my understanding was there was a $250,000 cap too, which seems like it would be reached fairly quickly these days.

From what I read a few weeks ago, the cap is $250,000 per claim.  But you can claim every treatment as a different claim.  Basically as the bills roll in you submit them.  So it isn't a $250,000 cap for her cancer treatment as I had feared.  Have surgery, negotiate the rates, submit the claim.  Have a chemo treatment, get the bill, submit the claim, etc.  The surgeon could be one claim and the anesthesiologist another.  The hospital stay, another claim.  Still seems like a huge headache.

[Dandruff]

2 hours ago, PennySycamore said:

How old is the baby now?  I can't imagine that Anna Marie started nursing the baby even a little because the surgeons would want her milk to dry up before surgery.  Surgery is possible on a lactating breast, but it's easier on a breast that isn't producing milk.  Anna Marie would also not be nursing after surgery either as chemo and breastfeeding are incompatible as are nursing and radioactive therapy agents, although the weaning with radio agents is only for most of them is five half-lives.

I think he's about two weeks old.  I wonder whether there's any chance Elissa would nurse him for awhile, since she also has a newborn.

[JemimaPuddle-Duck]

30 minutes ago, Dandruff said:

I think he's about two weeks old.  I wonder whether there's any chance Elissa would nurse him for awhile, since she also has a newborn.

I don’t know if they’d go for that (many people are uncomfortable with that, fundie or no),  but I think it highly likely that the sisters-in-law will donate milk if they are able. 

[adidas]

4 hours ago, PennySycamore said:

I can't remember if she was or not.  How old is the baby now?  I can't imagine that Anna Marie started nursing the baby even a little because the surgeons would want her milk to dry up before surgery.  Surgery is possible on a lactating breast, but it's easier on a breast that isn't producing milk.  Anna Marie would also not be nursing after surgery either as chemo and breastfeeding are incompatible as are nursing and radioactive therapy agents, although the weaning with radio agents is only for most of them is five half-lives.  it might be possible to Anna Marie  to re-lactate after treatment is over, but I bet her doctors would not advise it.  It can be difficult and she might just have to wean again if things go south again.  

I hope this post comes across as I intend it - I feel the need to add a disclaimer that I breastfed for over 5 years, so I’m not anti-BF!

I hope Anna Marie doesn’t breastfeed and chooses to either use donated milk or to formula feed the baby. One of my friends from school chose to breastfeed her baby instead of undergoing treatment for her breast cancer. She died soon after the baby weaned. I just think having formula and a living mum is so much more important than breastmilk.

[petrushka]

3 hours ago, adidas said:

I hope this post comes across as I intend it - I feel the need to add a disclaimer that I breastfed for over 5 years, so I’m not anti-BF!

I hope Anna Marie doesn’t breastfeed and chooses to either use donated milk or to formula feed the baby. One of my friends from school chose to breastfeed her baby instead of undergoing treatment for her breast cancer. She died soon after the baby weaned. I just think having formula and a living mum is so much more important than breastmilk.

According to the literature I read when diagnosed with DCIS, all breast cancers originate within the lobules or the milk ducts.  We don't know anything about Anna Marie's tumor other than what was revealed on the blog, but I assume she's got at least one duct blocked with abnormal cells.  Wouldn't that complicate lactation, I mean, I could imagine her developing mastitis if the tumor was located in a duct and the milk couldn't get through?  So I hope she uses donated breast milk or formula also.

[usmcmom]

I had never thought about the complications of breastfeeding before her surgery. I think it is a wonderful thought for the other Maxwell sisters-in-law to donate breast milk. Personally, I think it’d be beautiful for one of the other moms to nurse baby Simon. It would seem to be easier all around to use formula and, with all they are going through, that would be a wise decision, in my opinion.  *My babies were breast and formula fed so I don’t come down strongly on either side of that battle in the mommy wars. Fed is best. 
 

As for costs of cancer treatments.  My husbands’ parents had cancer diagnoses that overlapped for about a month, with the total care for both lasting about eighteen months. They passed away within eight months of each other. Their total medical costs (on paper) were just over a million dollars, by the time we got all bills sorted. The family’s costs were 0 because of Medicare, supplements and VA benefits. Still, seeing the numbers was shocking.  

I sure hope Anna gets the best treatment with her life and health as top priority. 

[SassyPants]

I know this is an apples to oranges comparison, but 5 years ago right after my GD was born, my daughter contracted strep throat and was so sick she ended up hospitalized. Soon the infection was in her blood and then the right breast. She needed to have surgery, drains and long term antibiotics. The surgeons wanted her to stop BF immediately, the nurses, not so much. I was able to bring her baby into the hospital and my daughter did pump on the unaffected side, but the surgeon really was anti any and all BF. I can’t imagine BF being appropriate for AM at this time. I’m thinking for ease of care, SPM will be formula fed.

Like most people, I believe fed is best.

[Giraffe]

11 hours ago, Dandruff said:

I think he's about two weeks old.  I wonder whether there's any chance Elissa would nurse him for awhile, since she also has a newborn.

I can see them doing this or giving him pumped breast milk from anyone of the other in-laws who are still nursing.

[Alisamer]

On 1/28/2020 at 4:53 PM, allyisyourpally5 said:

pardon my ignorance, I’m from the UK, so we have that evil socialist healthcare (I love our NHS) but like many Brits, it’s perfectly true to say I have no real clue how much one hospital treatment costs. 

I live in the US and I don't have a real clue. I don't think anyone does! If you look up costs for a procedure, you'll see a huge range of anecdotal prices. I once looked up the costs of a colposcopy, and saw actual posted invoices from $180 up to a few thousand. 

I have no insurance this year, and had to get a prescription refilled that insurance had been paying for. At Walgreens, where I had been going, it was $158. 

The exact same thing from Walmart? $9 cash. 

I have a co-worker who takes care of prescriptions for her elderly mother, disabled husband, bi-polar son, and chronically ill daughter, plus the one medicine she takes. She literally goes to about 9 different pharmacies, because this one takes this insurance, this one takes medicare, this one has a coupon that covers this drug, this one has this other drug on their discount list, but this other pharmacy has a different list that covers this other medicine, this one med is cheaper online, this one the manufacturer will give a voucher for but it only works certain places...

Medical costs of all sorts in the US are screwed up. And I think Samaritan is even more screwed up.

[PennySycamore]

I think it would be lovely if Elissa would wet nurse S.Peter as she should be able to produce enough milk for both newborns.  At least get him through the first month or two.  Anna Marie might be able to get donated milk through a milk bank and there is informal milk sharing, as well.  Informal milk sharing is usually free although the recipient family may reimburse for any shipping costs.  With donor milk from a milk bank, there is frequently a charge.  If the mother has a prescription for the milk from her doctor,  insurance often covers it.  I don't know if Scamaritan would or not.  If the baby is bottle-fed (which he will be unless he's wet-nursed), then other family members need to take over the preparation and washing of bottles and maybe some/all feedings.  Anna Marie needs to be spared work that others can do. 

[IReallyAmHopewell]

10 hours ago, adidas said:

I hope this post comes across as I intend it - I feel the need to add a disclaimer that I breastfed for over 5 years, so I’m not anti-BF!

I hope Anna Marie doesn’t breastfeed and chooses to either use donated milk or to formula feed the baby. One of my friends from school chose to breastfeed her baby instead of undergoing treatment for her breast cancer. She died soon after the baby weaned. I just think having formula and a living mum is so much more important than breastmilk.

I'm with the "Fed is Best" group on how to feed your kid. Feed them what lets them thrive. Don't let them starve to make a statement. Breast is an option. It's not always "Breast is Best." I was going to ask if maybe the other new Maxwell Mom might donate some breast milk for the a little while. I sincerely hope--and it looks like--AM and hubs are choosing to fight for her life and not just her milk.

[Giraffe]

19 minutes ago, IReallyAmHopewell said:

I sincerely hope--and it looks like--AM and hubs are choosing to fight for her life and not just her milk.

And also not just her fertility. 

[Tatoe]

Long time lurker, first time poster - but every time the cost of medical treatment comes up, or the difficulties of negotiating insurance, I feel overwhelmingly grateful to be where I am in New Zealand.

As I write this I'm in my 7-month-old son's hospital room - we're in the fourth month of his treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma (cancer originating in the nerve cells) now. Literally the highest cost to us (other than loss of income when my husband takes the occasional day off work) has been parking, and most of the time we're able to find a free park. All his treatment is free (and no expense is spared - they are doing all they can), all his medications and prescription formula are free, his tests are free (even the one they had to fly us to another city for - the hospital paid for our flights, taxis, and our accommodation and meals were taken care of by the Ronald McDonald House). Our rough guesstimate is that his treatment so far will have cost the country upwards of $1 million NZD, and we've got another year or more to go!

At the other end of the spectrum, our hospital also treats kids from some of the Pacific Islands (Samoa and Tonga in particular I think). These kids get what their governments can afford - this means cheaper treatment protocols, chemo delivered via subcut injection instead of via a central line, fewer supportive medications to treat pain and other side effects... a Pasifika child with my son's diagnosis would have been immediately put into palliative care.

All this to say, my heart breaks that everyone doesn't have access to the medical care that my family and I do. And those that do have access to it, but may choose not to take advantage because of the "evil government" or whatever... well, I haven't got anything more to add on that right now. I just hope Anna Marie is able to get the best treatment available to her (for her and her kids, not just any theoretical future kids) and that her access to it isn't compromised by Samaritan or the men around her.

Edited January 30, 2020 by Tatoe
Adding a word!

[PennySycamore]

@Tatoe,  here's hoping that your son is one of the kids that beats high-risk neuroblastoma!  

[Intothewind]

I'm Canadian so I don't necessarily see all my bills. I can't even imagine the cost of my 4.5 month outpatient therapy for mental health a couple years ago, or the cost for the follow-up support group I still have access to. Unfortunately, my Province seems to be moving towards more privatization. 

[bluelady]

24 minutes ago, Intothewind said:

I'm Canadian so I don't necessarily see all my bills. I can't even imagine the cost of my 4.5 month outpatient therapy for mental health a couple years ago, or the cost for the follow-up support group I still have access to. Unfortunately, my Province seems to be moving towards more privatization. 

My province is looking at a P3 hospital.  Could we be in the same province?

[Granwych]

22 hours ago, SoSoNosy said:

My cancer treatment (six months of chemo) was forecast to cost $27,000, but since I have Medicare and a supplement there would be 0 cost to me.

One thing that really, really bothered me was that they took me to the privacy of the financial part of the oncology clinic to tell me that.  BUT.. they came out to the lady who was sitting beside me at the time (she is there every three weeks, for her whole life) to ask her if she had applied for Medicaid.  She said she had, and was turned down; they told her she had to get documentation on that so that they could get her on their private medical aid program.  Why would they take me into a private place to tell me that I wouldn't owe anything, and then tell her how bad her insurance (or lack thereof) was?

Seeing treatment like that really gets my goat.  I fired my grandfather’s doctor for the unnecessary lack of privacy he demonstrated towards my dying grandfather.  I also got my grandmother a different and much more respecting doctor .

[Intothewind]

51 minutes ago, bluelady said:

My province is looking at a P3 hospital.  Could we be in the same province?

I'm in Alberta

[SassyPants]

I can’t see the Maxwells giving any of their babies EBM from any donor, not even a SIL. These are people who are isolated and not the least bit inclusionary. These are people who consider the married brothers and their families outside their core family group. These folks are willfully uneducated and stubborn.