Not all papers signed--what do I do?
By daeckardt
@daeckardt (6237)
United States
February 25, 2011 9:34am CST
I just got a phone call from the study nurse at the cancer center. She told me that not all the papers were signed for the study they want to put me on. If transportation weren't an issue, I could go at any time today and take care of that. Right now, my brother does not have a car to get me around except on days that his wife leaves him the car.
I currently have two appointments scheduled for next week with the urology department and nuclear medicine (a renal scan). I could go by on one of those days to sign the papers so they can see if I qualify for the study, but that would delay treatment for at least another week! I know that this cancer is slow growing (at least it was the first time around), but I have already been here for two months and nothing has been done. Even if I qualified for the study, there is 50% chance that I will just get the standard treatment. If that is the case, I might as well not even bother with the study.
My question to you: If it were you, what would you do? I almost told the nurse to just schedule me without the study because there is too much nonsense going on with it and I'm tired of the delays. This is driving me CRAZY!
1 person likes this
4 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
25 Feb 11
I see that transportation is an issue with funds and I so understand. Is there anyway they can email and you print them off and email them back. Why would they go this far and halt because of a few signatures.
I would suggest, if it were me to get back on the phone and use all forces possible to ask how they can handle this. I mean I would cry, scream, yell - be heard. Do not let this opportunity get by so call them back.
Surely they have to understand that you need this and they should be able to accommodate. Maybe say to them you will sign the day of. Or here is another though call up the hospital and speak to social services and say to them how difficult it is for you to get there and how can they HELP, with getting this done. Tell them you are alone and have no help.
I do wish you well with this as I know it is important to you.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Feb 11
Actually, my doctor just called me back and they will bring the paperwork to me on Wednesday when I go into town for another appointment. She is as anxious to get me started as I am to get started, but she says the delay won't hurt anything. She is going to have the social worker call me today (unless she is not in today) to help me make arrangements for transportation. According to the computer records at the hospital, I have been approved for medicaid, but I haven't heard anything from them myself yet so I don't trust that to be the case. I hope it is true because I just got a bill from the hospital for over $75,000! And I haven't even started chemo yet! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!
@marguicha (230349)
• Chile
25 Feb 11
THere are SO many things I don´t understand about the US
! The problems my friend has belong to an extreme underdevelopped country. It is a shame that in cancer centers they don´t have the facilities to help the patients with paperwork. I´m sure that it´s not the patient´s fault that there are papers yet to sign. Someone "forgot" to tell daeckart to sign them while she was at the hospital.
! The problems my friend has belong to an extreme underdevelopped country. It is a shame that in cancer centers they don´t have the facilities to help the patients with paperwork. I´m sure that it´s not the patient´s fault that there are papers yet to sign. Someone "forgot" to tell daeckart to sign them while she was at the hospital.1 person likes this
@marguicha (230349)
• Chile
25 Feb 11
I´m SO happy this is under control. Still I don´t think that hospitals should first terrify the patients and THEN come out with the solutions. That happens in my country too. I just hate that.
In my country there is a national health insurance that is mandatory and costs very little to cover up for what is called catastrophic illness. Before that, some people had to sell their houses and get into great debt with those illness. Chemo and radiotheraphy for cancer is one of them.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
26 Feb 11
I see that this immediate problem is taken care of now. As far as the hospital saying you are approved for Medicaid then it is likely you are. I would have thought that the e mail option would have worked.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
26 Feb 11
Actually, what they saw that was approved was for well woman care only. The medicaid case is still pending. As far as the paperwork is concerned, the doctor is going to send it over to the clinic where I have an appointment next week and I will sign it then so they can get it sent off. Either way, I will get started with the chemo the week after next. Boy, this has turned out to be an ordeal! I can't wait until it is all over with!
@marguicha (230349)
• Chile
25 Feb 11
How much would a taxi cost? Can you ask if the hospital has a way of bringing the papers to you (might be cheaper than a taxi, even if it´s paid)? Do you have any friends who could oblige? Can´t your sister in law take you this once?
You don´t want delays if you can do anything about it. And if you could go from China to the US, then you can go to the hospital. PLEASE do it.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Feb 11
The taxi would cost too much since I don't have any funds available right now. I asked her about the possibility of her sending the papers out to me and it was no go. I don't know anyone around here except my brother. His wife is not helpful at all. She is the one who prevents him from being able to come out more often. Since it isn't even known if I qualify for the study, I'm thinking it might be better to go with the standard treatment since there's 50% chance that is what I will get even if I qualify for the study. Thanks for the comment.
@soapies1973 (931)
• United States
25 Feb 11
Can you take a taxi? Is there a medical transport service where you are? Sorry you have to deal with the cancer. My thoughts are with you.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Feb 11
If I had money right now I probably could. I should have money next week, but right now I only have about $2 and the place I need to go is about 6 or 7 miles away. That would take about $15 each way. I think there are medical transport services, but if you don't have medicaid, I think you still have to pay a lot but I'm not sure. Thanks for the response.
