Week Two

Week two has begun.  Patty and I drove down early Monday morning.  The trip takes 5 1/2 hours.  We are lucky that the ProCure treatment center is located north, very north Oklahoma City.  There was a couple of road construction slow downs but all in all, not to bad.  Of course, Brownback has taken all the money  from the road budget so you don't have to worry too much about construction in Kansas.

My insurance company Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas denied coverage for Proton therapy three times. Do you remember when you insurance company or agent said to you here is your policy (life, health, auto, home) now be sure to read it.  Who reads that stuff, not me.

Anyhow, after three denials for proton therapy you do have the right to send the request to a third party external review, Kansas Foundation for Medical Care.  Both parties send information to the Foundation and they review the request for coverage and both parties must abide by their determination.  I didn't have much hope that they would overturn the BC/BS decision.  BC/BS calls proton therapy 'experimental'.  Come on, it has been approved by the FDA since the 80's and the first patient was treated back in 1980.  Experimental, 36 years, come on now.

Anyhow, the call came Thursday afternoon, the Foundation 'overturned' the BC/BS initial decision not to cover the cost of proton therapy.  Yea, you have keep the faith.  We did and look how things turned out. No more appeals, the foundation's ruling is final.  Proton therapy really doesn't cost that much more than regular radiation treatment.  The after affects are almost non existing and the radiation goes after the cancer not the surrounding organs etc.  It just made so much sense to me after my investigation to go this route.  Anyhow, so thankful that our prayers were answered.

Have you ever heard of proton therapy radiation?  I had not.  Any medical issue that you have today or that may come up in the future, step back and investigate, it is your right.  New things are happening after day in the medical field and you may be surprised what you learn and find.

Treatment went fine yesterday, today's treatment is coming up fast.  After today, only 38 treatments remaining.  It is very hot down here today and the humidity is almost as worse as Kansas.  See you all soon.