wilder1run
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My husband has intraheptic with about the same mass. He received approval for the treatment by AETNA and had half the treatment done two weeks ago at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver Colorado. You might contact UCH Interventional Radiology at 303-372-6130 to see how they got it approved, it was approved very quickly. I can’t tell you yet if it has helped or not, I can tell you it made my husband very sick for the first two weeks, and he’s still unable to eat as he did before and definately is very weak and fatigued but they tell you that will happen. I’ll let you know how he progresses, at first blush I almost wish he hadn’t had the treatment because he suffered a lot with it, but if it ends up in the long run making him feel better then I guess it was worth it.
Just a quick follow up: this was a two day out-patient procedure, and the side effects are that Bob feels like he has a very very bad case of the flu. It has been a week since the procedure and he is still very weak and is in a lot of pain. His stomach hurts more than the rest of his body, it seems, also pain in all of the stomach area and abdomen. However, we were told to expect the flu – like symptoms. Hopefully he will feel better soon.
Hi Carolann,
This is a frightening disease and I remember clearly the way I felt when I heard. It is hard, and it is lonely, and you and your mother have my prayers. But, keep hope!! My husband was diagnosed in October 06 and they were unable to place a stint because they couldn’t get it past the tumor, however they did drain his bile ducts externally. Without that we would have lost him then and there. He has been treated with Gemzar, and now Tarceva, and his markers are coming down and last week they removed the external drain because they were able to get past the blockages! His color is good, his energy is up, and his tumor markers are way down! (Even tho our insurance won’t cover the tests for the markers – the dirty dogs have made our lives much more difficult lately, but as I understand it you don’t have to deal with that, and thank your stars!)What they are doing will make your Mom feel much better, and although there is no known cure for this right now, that doesn’t mean that it’s not out there. It’s just not known yet.
I’m wondering if anyone else out there has AETNA. So far, these people have been a nightmare. It has added greatly to the stress for my husband and I. They refuse to pay for the tests for his tumor markers. They refuse to pay for a visit to a Dr. and University of Colorado where we consulted about therasphere treatement which I’m sure means they will refuse the treatment as well. Is it just us? Does anyone have anything positive to say about AETNA? If so, I’d like to hear it because I’m so so so discouraged. When I get something in the mail from them, I just cringe. If you’re looking for health care provider I would recommend United Health Care. They were wonderful.
Thank you Peter! The American Cancer Society and Johns Hopkins, among others, also seem to think CA19-9 is the test to use. AETNA appears to be way off base. Now I’m very worried about having to fight them for other things too, but FIGHT I WILL!
Our insurance company is AETNA, it changed from United Health Care on January 1. I just discovered that AETNA is refusing to pay for the tests the Dr. is ordering to track my husband’s tumour markers. What test are being used and paid for? If you would share what they are, I would appreciate that. I’m trying to find out if my husband’s Dr. is ordering the wrong test, because it seems to me that testing for tumour markers is something a lot of people are doing. I’m confused about why United would see them as necessary, and pay for them, and why AETNA doesn’t think that we should be testing for tumour markers. I’ve contacted the company advocate, but they have not returned with any information.
The test in question is CA19-9.
