killmel

Congrats Mike making it through your scans! I was reading that since you are in a clinical trial, the Pharma sponsor of clinical trials pick up the cost of scans, getting biopsy done for use in trial, drugs used trial, blood work for trial, etc.

You should be able to SAVE lots of money from your GOFUNDME. If Dr Hamid or his nurse did NOT review the costs that will be picked up by the pharma sponsor of the Clinical Trial, you should ask them. If they have told you what costs are going to be picked, please tell us. This would be helpful information for anyone considering a clinical trial. Hang in there man!!!

WOW Mike, you been through a lot. I read ALL your posts (love your sense of humor) and Kaiser has not given you much help. Even Dr Hamid’s medical assistant Jasmine not getting back to you. What was her excuse for not getting back to you… there should be no excuses!

I donated to your GOFund Me when you first asked for help. I just checked and you collected $3,575 with your goal being $5000. I know you need the money to pay for a consultation with Dr Hamid How much is Dr Hamid charging for a consultation with no insurance??? If you don’t reach $5000, does that mean you can’t afford to see Dr Hamid?? That would be terrible and you need help NOW.

My heart is broken to hear that Celeste is dealing with cancer again. She is the most wonderful women that is selfless and always trying to help others.

Mat,is this the link to Celeste blog. I would like to follow her blog?

http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/

Congrats Maggie! If you don't mind asking, where did you have your scans done?

I did extension research regarding various lasers & treating scars. After consulting with 3 laser specialist doctors, I decided to go forward with laser treatment. To my dismay, after several treatment over a 1 yr period, there was only minimum improvement of my scar. The cost was very expensive because treating scars, you need multiple treatments. The doctors never guaranteed improvement because each person responds to laser treatment differently. I would NOT recommend getting laser treatment for scars. Save your money and try over the counter products that improve scars.That's my 2 cent on laser for scars!

I have been treated at UCI melamona center and it was a terrible experience. The Melanoma Center is part of a HUGE Medical Center. You do not get  NOT personal service. You are just a number. Also,  you could wait hours to see your doctor even with an appt. My recommendation would be to go to a private practice Dermatologist.

I have been treated at UCI melamona center and it was a terrible experience. The Melanoma Center is part of a HUGE Medical Center. You do not get  NOT personal service. You are just a number. Also,  you could wait hours to see your doctor even with an appt. My recommendation would be to go to a private practice Dermatologist.

I have been treated at UCI melamona center and it was a terrible experience. The Melanoma Center is part of a HUGE Medical Center. You do not get  NOT personal service. You are just a number. Also,  you could wait hours to see your doctor even with an appt. My recommendation would be to go to a private practice Dermatologist.

Celeste, thank you for sharing your situation with the clinical trial experience. That’s an eye opener for sure.

I had heard and wondered if true, if a patient doesn’t have insurance or the insurance doesn’t cover out of network, like with Mike’s situation with Kaiser Insurance which will not pay the doctors (Hamid) & services (ie: biopsy scans, blood labs associated with the clinical trial, that the pharma sponsor of the clinical trial will pick up the cost for doctors ( DR Hamid) & services (ie: biopsy scans, blood labs associated with the clinical trial) because Kaiser will not pay for the costs.

That’s why I was interested in knowing if Dr Hamid or the trial nurse said anything to Mike about the pharma sponsor picking up costs because Kaiser is not. It seems to me that since Mike is being the Rattie for the pharma sponsor trial and since Kaiser isn’t picking up Mike’s cost, it’s only fair that the pharma pick up the cost because Mike’s insurance won’t.

Hi Maggie,

If you decide to zap mel with gamma knife, you might first want to learn about Proton Therapy because

"Proton therapy is the most precise form of radiation treatment available today. The accuracy of protons enables doctors to treat tumors with a substantially lower total radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissue. Because proton therapy minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues, patients are better able to tolerate their treatments and are less likely to have treatment-related problems."

Here is a link to San Diego Scripp's Proton therapy center.

https://www.scripps.org/services/cancer-care__proton-therapy/what-is-proton-therapy

Good Luck

 

Hi Maggie,

If you decide to zap mel with gamma knife, you might first want to learn about Proton Therapy because

"Proton therapy is the most precise form of radiation treatment available today. The accuracy of protons enables doctors to treat tumors with a substantially lower total radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissue. Because proton therapy minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues, patients are better able to tolerate their treatments and are less likely to have treatment-related problems."

Here is a link to San Diego Scripp's Proton therapy center.

https://www.scripps.org/services/cancer-care__proton-therapy/what-is-proton-therapy

Good Luck

 

Hi Maggie,

If you decide to zap mel with gamma knife, you might first want to learn about Proton Therapy because

"Proton therapy is the most precise form of radiation treatment available today. The accuracy of protons enables doctors to treat tumors with a substantially lower total radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissue. Because proton therapy minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues, patients are better able to tolerate their treatments and are less likely to have treatment-related problems."

Here is a link to San Diego Scripp's Proton therapy center.

https://www.scripps.org/services/cancer-care__proton-therapy/what-is-proton-therapy

Good Luck

 

Hi Patina,

 

Lots of people are getting treatment at The Angeles Clinicwhere Dr.O'day was practicing. You mentioned in your post "The misdiagnosis did not start with Dr. O'Day, but one of his staff members.  I now wonder if  the office had a bigger problem at the time with the news Michael brought to our attention".

 

Do you know the name of the doctor ""The misdiagnosis did not start with Dr. O'Day, but one of his staff members" who was responsible for the misdiagnosis. I think that it would be helpful to other people to know the name of the doctor so they have all the information.I hope that you can post the name of the doctor.

Patina thankyou foryour post. It is so scary when picking a doctor. I agree with you to always get asecond opinion.

Hi Patina,

 

Lots of people are getting treatment at The Angeles Clinicwhere Dr.O'day was practicing. You mentioned in your post "The misdiagnosis did not start with Dr. O'Day, but one of his staff members.  I now wonder if  the office had a bigger problem at the time with the news Michael brought to our attention".

 

Do you know the name of the doctor ""The misdiagnosis did not start with Dr. O'Day, but one of his staff members" who was responsible for the misdiagnosis. I think that it would be helpful to other people to know the name of the doctor so they have all the information.I hope that you can post the name of the doctor.

Patina thankyou foryour post. It is so scary when picking a doctor. I agree with you to always get asecond opinion.

Hi Patina,

 

Lots of people are getting treatment at The Angeles Clinicwhere Dr.O'day was practicing. You mentioned in your post "The misdiagnosis did not start with Dr. O'Day, but one of his staff members.  I now wonder if  the office had a bigger problem at the time with the news Michael brought to our attention".

 

Do you know the name of the doctor ""The misdiagnosis did not start with Dr. O'Day, but one of his staff members" who was responsible for the misdiagnosis. I think that it would be helpful to other people to know the name of the doctor so they have all the information.I hope that you can post the name of the doctor.

Patina thankyou foryour post. It is so scary when picking a doctor. I agree with you to always get asecond opinion.