Comments on: Accountability in Healthcare? Just Give Me a Diet Coke! http://www.wtflungcancer.com/accountability-in-healthcare-just-give-me-a-diet-coke/ My mom has lung cancer. She has never smoked. This is her journey. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alexandra Fox http://www.wtflungcancer.com/accountability-in-healthcare-just-give-me-a-diet-coke/#comment-335 Alexandra Fox Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:13:21 +0000 http://www.wtflungcancer.com/?p=43#comment-335 That's HORRIBLE. I can't imagine an oncologist suggesting that to a patient. We are fortunate that my father's oncologist is WONDERFUL. He keeps saving my Dad's life, he has an excellent bedside manner and... well, he's easy on the eyes as well. ;)<br>But patients still need advocates even with great doctors. You're doing a great job! That's HORRIBLE. I can't imagine an oncologist suggesting that to a patient. We are fortunate that my father's oncologist is WONDERFUL. He keeps saving my Dad's life, he has an excellent bedside manner and… well, he's easy on the eyes as well. ;)
But patients still need advocates even with great doctors. You're doing a great job!

]]> By: Alexandra Fox http://www.wtflungcancer.com/accountability-in-healthcare-just-give-me-a-diet-coke/#comment-317 Alexandra Fox Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:13:21 +0000 http://www.wtflungcancer.com/?p=43#comment-317 That's HORRIBLE. I can't imagine an oncologist suggesting that to a patient. We are fortunate that my father's oncologist is WONDERFUL. He keeps saving my Dad's life, he has an excellent bedside manner and... well, he's easy on the eyes as well. ;)<br>But patients still need advocates even with great doctors. You're doing a great job! That's HORRIBLE. I can't imagine an oncologist suggesting that to a patient. We are fortunate that my father's oncologist is WONDERFUL. He keeps saving my Dad's life, he has an excellent bedside manner and… well, he's easy on the eyes as well. ;)
But patients still need advocates even with great doctors. You're doing a great job!

]]> By: Jenn http://www.wtflungcancer.com/accountability-in-healthcare-just-give-me-a-diet-coke/#comment-7 Jenn Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:24:21 +0000 http://www.wtflungcancer.com/?p=43#comment-7 Jennifer, Initially when my mother was diagnosed we went through the same thing. It really pissed me off to no end. I am a straight shooter as well and it seems at the time when we are the sickest those in the healthcare industry are the least willing to help. My mother went through a similar circumstance when her doctor put her on Tarceva. She was told that the pills would cost thousands of dollars for a 30 day supply. Now imagine having Cancer and then being told the medicine to keep you alive was going to cost over 1K for just a 30 day supply. The insurance company gave her the run around and she couldn't get a straight answer from anyone until CVS Drugstore (thank you CVS) advised her that she could try going straight to the drug company manufacturer and they could possibly get her the drug at NO COST! My point is instead of trying to help the patient to find an easier method of payment for these costly pills, they instead made her do all the calling and checking all the while she is trying to deal with the news of being diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Not fun and not fair. Someone I believe it was CVS again advised her that she didn't have to do that she could get a case manager at her insurance company to make these calls about her medicine, payment questions etc. My question is why are the doctors not giving the patients this very important info? The answer is simple as long as they get paid that is all they care about. Sad to say but true I think. Just makes me want to scream WTF! Jennifer,
Initially when my mother was diagnosed we went through the same thing. It really pissed me off to no end. I am a straight shooter as well and it seems at the time when we are the sickest those in the healthcare industry are the least willing to help. My mother went through a similar circumstance when her doctor put her on Tarceva. She was told that the pills would cost thousands of dollars for a 30 day supply. Now imagine having Cancer and then being told the medicine to keep you alive was going to cost over 1K for just a 30 day supply. The insurance company gave her the run around and she couldn’t get a straight answer from anyone until CVS Drugstore (thank you CVS) advised her that she could try going straight to the drug company manufacturer and they could possibly get her the drug at NO COST!

My point is instead of trying to help the patient to find an easier method of payment for these costly pills, they instead made her do all the calling and checking all the while she is trying to deal with the news of being diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Not fun and not fair. Someone I believe it was CVS again advised her that she didn’t have to do that she could get a case manager at her insurance company to make these calls about her medicine, payment questions etc. My question is why are the doctors not giving the patients this very important info? The answer is simple as long as they get paid that is all they care about. Sad to say but true I think. Just makes me want to scream WTF!

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