My Newest BFF

Monday I begin my chemo and radiation therapy treatments, so I've been trying to tie up some loose ends in my life as well as complete some unfinished tasks.  It is just a beautiful day and I've tried to grab a little of the winter sunshine hoping it will help protect me from sliding into a pre-treatment funk.  I am so ready for this to begin, and so ready for it to end.  It is the not knowing that eats away at you, how sick will I get, what about the radiation burns, will it cure me.  I'm impatient for answers.

I'm also angry at my insurance company, really angry.  It seems that in the infinite wisdom of their esteemed medical director my therapy should be paid as an out of network provider rate.  Which means a significant copay (50%) for of all my treatments.  The Medical Director at Health Net in California feels that though I will be receiving daily radiation here in Fredericksburg, Va it would be more appropriate for me to commute to Woodbridge, over 30 miles between these two providers to have chemotherapy.  So he denied my request to negotiate with my local, and I might add very competent chemotherapy doctor and encouraged me to commute north for these services.  I have begun the appeal process which of course has not been resolved yet and as I stated I begin treatment Monday morning.  Yes - you just have to love the insurance industry.  Of course my opinion was tempered and my rage abated when I received a call from my new nurse case manager.  Gosh was she ever helpful and oh so very concerned and sympathetic.  She started out by asking me if I understood the implications of using an out of network provider since my request for in-network provider services was denied.  I had to ask exactly what she meant and she clarified by stating the cost of my medical care.  At this point she said we could talk about options - what options I asked...she said well you could delay treatment until this is resolved.   Again this is the NURSE case manager, did she really actually make that suggestion - why yes she did.  So the nurse case manager, not my three oncologists actually suggested delaying treatment.  I almost politely said no and then told her what I thought of their medical director.  Then my newest best friend wanted to ask me about my  support network and any nutritional issues that may concern me.  I told her my support network far exceeded my needs and if anything I had too much help.  As for nutrition I am vegan to which she asked me if I was getting adequate fiber - surely you jest my dear, unless I am mistaken fiber is the very basis of a VEGAN diet.  She encouraged me to contact their nutritional counseling group for what I don't know maybe recipes or something.  I indicated to her that all three of my oncologists as well as my internist absolutely endorse this diet for cancer patients and perhaps she should pick-up a copy of the China Study.  She left me her number and said to call her if I need to just talk.

So, to be very clear, Pam, Nurse Case Manager at Health Net is not part of my support team.  I don't need or want any nutritional advice and clearly I don't require assistance other then financial from her on when to start treatment that has been ordered by three highly educated and experienced oncology doctors.  Thanks so much for your help Pam.

OK, I may be in a funk.