After the Whipple?

Chance4,

Thank you for this information, it is very helpful. I don’t think we have a resident expert on medical billing so please stick around!

Patty

JILL,
I am a medical biller. My mother also had the same type of cancer and she had bc/bs which only covered a percentage of her expenses. She also had a $500.00 deductible. Legally, you have to pay your deductible but you can ask any facility if they will accept assignment for the co-insurance. Which means, would they accept whatever the insurance company pays as payment in full. If they won’t you can ask if they would consider reducing the bill. Most places will do this, as they are getting paid something and they do understand your situation. My mothers bill at one facility was over $3500.00 they accepted $1000.00 as pmt in full. Another facility agreed to accept whatever the insurance company paid as pmt in full. If one person tells you no, wait a while and then speak to someone else, you will run into those who have no compassion or understanding. It never hurts to ask, as this is a long rough road. I wish you the best of Luck, may God be with you every step of the way.

Jill,
I wanted to welcome you to the site and let you know, I am thrilled you had a good report. My father has battled Cholangiocarcinoma for 20 months and is at the end of his battle as we have called in Hospice. I cant get enough of good news for other CC patients. I dont want to hear of anyone else dying of this disease. Hearing good stories like yours makes me so happy that another family may not have to go through this loss. Keep up the good reports.
Barbara

Jill, I used to feel guilty posting all of Teddy’s Miracles here but these good people finally convinced me that no matter what, our good news gives others hope and that is what is important. You and Teddy have paid dearly for it and it does feel good to read other’s good news. I am getting a little anxious for Friday’s results. Teddy seems a little out of sorts lately. He looks good, but he is very antsy, is itching a tad more than usual and gets very tired. He was complaining yesterday that his legs are so tired and his hips are sore. Could be nothing but having been around this too long I don’t trust anything until I hear the ONC words. I try not to show him I am worried about the way he is feeling.
For 76 years young he really tries to push himself as he hates feeling down. But, you my dear, keep the good news coming!

Hi Jill. It’s my first time posting here, but saw your post and had to answer.

Just about 5 yrs ago, when I wish I had gall stones, I was dx’d with PC. Not knowing any better, I was lucky enough to end up at Hopkins in MD (I live in PA). Post-whipple, they said I had BDC that grew into the pancreas. At that time, they said the standard of care, and treating it the same as PC, was to follow up with radiation and chemotherapy.

At a local hospital, I did the 5FU pump (5 days on, weekends off) and radiation. Then followed up with 1 a week sessions of Gemzar for 4-6 weeks (not quite sure). Please do the followup as it’s better to rid yourself of any of those lingering cells now. Later is a whole different battle.

Hopkins has a very active PC board where everyone goes. The BDC board is not very active. Lots of info (and searches are helpful).

While I’m looking forward to celebrating my 5 yr whippleversary on 8/3, I wish you and your family the very best.

RS in PA

Not sure where I am anymore so will try to tell you briefly. We were visiting our kids in Milwaukee for 2 weeks and it turned in to 3 months. Teddy had been itching and got very tired and sickly. In just 2 days he totally jaundiced. Went to my son’s family doctor he ordered tests and in 5 days the diagnosis was Bile Duct Cancer. It was contained in the bile duct valve. Doctor said if, when he got in there and it had spread he would close up. Longer he is in surgery, better the outcome. After 4 hours he came out and said I have good news and not so good. My first thought was I didn’t hear the word bad. When he went in he discovered that the dye from the endoscopy leaked on the pancreas and literally destroyed it. He needed a healthy pancreas as he had to cut the head to get to the bile duct. Good news was he felt the cancer was contained. Went back to son’s to spend a few weeks gaining strength and Teddy came down with a double ecoli infection, that almost did him in. Back to the hospital and on anti biotics for 9 days and doc decided the pancreas was good enough. Time to proceed for the second Whipple. An 8 hour surgery was totally successful. Came home to Phoenix a month later and arrived safely after his 2 tubes blew out on the plane! In about 2 weeks he had a leakage and CT Scan showed that a small hole developed at the resection. He went in to rehab for 3 weeks on NOTHING but and IV. Nothing! The doc here felt she didn’t want to put him through another surgery and if we could starve it the hole would close up. It did. That was 3 years ago. All was going good until last April when the CC returned to where the duodenum used to be. Radiation last summer to bring it down in size and in December cyber knife to kill the monster. So far so good again. You can easily see why we all call him our Miracle Man. He is now 76. Sees the ONC every other month with LABS every month. Vigilance is the key now. On the other side the cancer that returned and all the scar tissue pushed his right ureter closed and he has to have a stent exchange every 2 months for life. We have just been told the stent will not work for ever and he will have to go back on a nephrostomy bag down the road. Never in my life thought I would learn so much about something I wish I never knew! We are very strong about it, talk a lot about it and that helps.
We know what we are facing and view each day as a gift. Teddy believes that attitude is everything. He also feels his work down here is not done. We all need him too much.