No MRI

Wonders never cease. Never mind that Dr. Kiel is well, Dr. Kiel. She's my radiation oncologist. She is the one who recommended the MRI to follow the mammogram. Long story short, she kind of knows what she's doing. If I weren't sure, I could've checked the New England Journal of medicine which since 2006 has regarded MRI's as recommended follow-up for women who've had breast cancer.

However.........it seems my health insurance company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield along with Encompass who acts to review claims and potential claims, don't see fit for me to get an MRI. Well, shucks! I guess making sure that the margins where my cancer was remain clear just doesn't warrant money being spent. So, I didn't get the MRI.

The end? Um, no. Dr. Kiel is going to write something more formal to my insurance company to prove need. And then the cow jumped over the moon. Wait a minute. I'm getting confused. It looks like I wrote that a well-regarded oncologist is asking permission for what she and the New England Journal of Medicine regard as standard procedure. Let me re-read. Hmm. Yes, that's what I wrote.

We'll see. We'll see if the request from my doctor gets approved. If not, enter legal proceedings. I'll keep you posted. This is nonsense. I am not going to go on and on about the supposed "doctor" whom I've never met who reviewed this and that this is the system we've all come to accept. It does scare me for the future should I need some other procedures and they should then somehow be regarded as unnecessary. I'm breaking that potential precedent now by taking this on.

My DNA results were clear. This indicates that I have no extra worries regarding any new breast cancers or ovarian cancers. I found that out yesterday and am very glad for this news.

The Avon Walk is happening. I have $1020. I need $980 more. I can take checks, cash or the link can be clicked in the entry prior to this one and donations can be made online.

If you know of any good attorneys who are adept at challenging insurance claims being denied, please pass that along to me.

It's all good. Getting mad and activated beats sad and sick any day.

Clear Mammogram

I went in for a mammogram today. I'm very glad that the location was moved as I didn't have flashbacks as much as I would've in the other place. This is in the new Prentice Women's Hospital. Waiting areas are called "suites".

I will have an MRI on Lincoln's Birthday. I'm off that day and Isaac has school so I picked that to avoid a day off of work and to avoid childcare issues. Those are always the issues but I have been working around them as much as possible. The MRI is status quo for a follow-up. No fun but it was to be expected.

I have another medical appointment at the end of the month. Even now that it's over, I'm going downtown for a lot of appointments. I'll post again after the MRI and outcome. DNA findings are likely in about a month.