What do I do?

[msnelson2006]

Six weeks ago, I went to the hospital with really bad lower back and abdominal pain. They told me that I have a complex cyst  measuring 1.7X 1.3cm and left ovary was 3.26X 2.6X 2cm. Last Monday I went back for a recheck and the ovary is 6.4X 5X 5.3 and the cyst is 5.9X 4.5X4.5 cm. Because I am only 33 and it is growing so rapidly, they suspect ovarian cancer. I have had a partial and had the right ovary removed in June. Not for the same thing though. I am experiencing all the signs. I am extremely fatigued, can hardly eat, fill up quickly, bloated and painful abdominal (look 6 months pregnant), lower back pain, always nautious (especially in the morning). They want me to see an obgyn, I have no insurance so can't. They were going to admit me, but the on-call obgyn could not get there..I seem to to feel worse everyday. My lymphocytes are low and my neutrophils are high. Six weeks ago they were normal. Scared and not sure what to do.

[slee56]

Your news about the appointment is great news... You are moving forward and that is great. Sometimes when it seems one door is closed to us a window opens up and we get sunshine... take care rest get some good liquid vitimines or a good type vitamine shake ..A company by the name Natures Way makes a whole food vitamine shake in Vannilla or cinnamon apple flavor that would be good for you to take...
take care and will say a prayer for you too...slee

[msnelson2006]

I finally have an appointment with the Moffitt Cancer Center next Thursday....
Update everyone next week.

[msnelson2006]

The Moffitt cancer center will be calling me this week to make an appointment. I am not sure if it is related but my right leg has been hurting since 10 a.m. and hasn't stopped....really weird. My bladder hurts too. especially today. Been fighting bladder infection/UTI/Cystitis since July.
The pain is getting worse. Instead of coming on slowly, it hits hard all at once. I think if they don't call me by tomorrow afternoon, I am going to call them. I was only able to eat two bites of food for breakfast and I had to force that. I only ate that early cause I got up at 5:30 a.m. for class. I am barely making it thru classes. I might end up back at the hospital. I stretched in class and it hurt horribly. My eyes started watering. I was ready to cry.
It makes this whole situation worse that my husband doesn't seem to realize what I am going through. I had pain the other night and his shoulder was close to me. It hurt so bad that I grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. Instead of trying to help me through it or hold me, he wanted me to take pain medicine. Pain meds make me dizzy and don't help with the pain. Emotionally this is all hard on me. Talking to you all helps me get through. And even though you all are alot worse off, I still feel like you know what I am going through. If I don't have cancer then I will be relieved and if I do, I couldn't think of a better group of people to stay in contact with. When I first came to this site you pointed me in the right direction to get help since I am uninsured. Thank you very much.

[msnelson2006]

Thank you. I will definitely keep everyone informed. Please keep me in your prayers.

[crecco]

  Thanks for letting us know. Now just keep us informed as to what you find out.
     Chris

[msnelson2006]

The Moffitt Cancer Center called me yesterday and took some information from me. They will be calling me this coming week for an appointment. They are just waiting on my information to be faxed from the hospital. And since they have programs to help uninsured, I do not have to worry anymore about the financial part.
Now the pain is getting worse, I woke up two days ago with lower back pain so bad I could hardly walk. The last three days I have been in bed almost constant. It just seems to get worse. I am so stricken with pain that no matter what medicine I take, it doesn't help. In fact the only thing it does is make me extremely dizzy.
I will give more of an update as soon as I have some information.

[msnelson2006]

Thank you very much. I appreciate the help...As far as the cancer policy, I have signed the papers but they have yet to deduct my premium for my policy and have not written it yet. If anyone knows its cancer before it is written they will not cover me. Takes 3-4 weeks to write it once they have taken out my payment. It has already been two weeks. But the policy covers chemo and transportation, loss of income, etc. I will keep you all updated on what is going on.
Thanks again
Michelle

[dian07]

If your kids do indeed come first, you will find some way to get in and be seen ASAP.  Hang in there......keep barking up any and every tree you can find.  I cannot imagine a cancer policy allowing you to wait only 2 weeks to make a claim......my guess it is more like 2 - 4 years.....I think you should contact the gyn department in Gainsville....the med-school there is good and I can't imagine they wouldn't have a program for women needing help.....please do give it a try!
I just looked some info up .....there is a dept at the University of Florida.....Women's Medical Plaza (obgyn).....their number is 352-265-8200.....this is a good place to start.  Give them a call and ask them what they would recommend for you.  Do it tomorrow.
Once again, good luck and keep us posted.   Do this for your kids as well as for yourself and your husband.
Peace.
dian

[crecco]

  I am so happy that you are taking things into your own hands to get the ball rolling with this.
  If in the worst case it should turn out to be cancer, please contact public aid again as they may step in to help. I could not recieve any benefits at all either, but as soon as I was dx with cancer, all of that changed. My Drs did help, so maybe yours will do the same.
  I will keep you in my prayers that this does not turn out to be cancer. Please keep us informed as to what is going on and what you find out.
           Chris

[msnelson2006]

By Florida's law an obgyn or oncologist on call has to see a patient when they come out of the hospital if the e.r. doctor calls them. I'm not necessarily convinced that it is cancer, but the e.r. doctor says he suspects. Several generations back on my mom's side have had some form of cancer, mainly ovarian and breast. Trust me the last thing I want is cancer. I contacted the Moffitt cancer center and they said they will see what they can do to help me. I faxed the paperwork and waiting on call for them to get the financial info. If worse comes to worse, I will go back to the hospital. Th e.r. dr. already they can't turn me away. At that point they will have to do surgery and call someone in if it is cancer.
I am doing everything I can though so that I can get it taken care of. I pray everyday that it is not cancer, but I hoping for only the best. I sympathize with your situation and wish there was some way to help... I wouldn't even wish cancer on my worst enemy.
  I have four kids from 7-13 and cannot afford the extra expense...They come first. I was on food stamps and medicaid but even though we are barely making it, they cut us off anyway..Says he makes too much. $2400 as month for 6 people is not much at all. I am already shifting bills and paying minimums. I can't cut anymore than I already have. I have signed up for cancer insurance but have to wait 2-4 weeks for the policy goes into effect. Like I said I will get it done.
Thank you for your information and concerns. I am working on getting this problem taken care of.

[Jan214]

While I certainly agree that you may need to see a gynonc down the road, the first step is to see a gynecologist.  You can't just call and make an appt with a gynonc.  They all want a referral from a gynecologist who has pre-screened you to be sure you are not wasting their time. I am fortunate to live in a city where there are 6 gynocs, but they have a lot of patients to see and they just don't have the time to see every woman who gets hysterical because they have a functional cyst that they are convinced is cancer. I am certainly not saying that is the case with you, I am just explaining why gynoncs won't see you without a referral. Some cities have no gynoncs and women have no choice but to either drive a long distance or go to a general onc.  There are many women on here who don't have access to a gynonc because they live in such small towns so they go to someplace like Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, John Hopkins etc and they get a plan and than their local general onc administers the plan.  I hope you are able to get some financial help with this and soon.  If you do have cancer the difference between stage one and stage 3 is literally a really good chance at a long life vs a really good chance at a short life.  I am stage 3c and you don't want to be that.  If you can't get some help soon, find the 90 bucks. I know that is hard. I haven't worked for over a year and my husband lost his job in June so we are always robbing Peter to pay Paul.  I don't care what it takes, find the money.  Sell something, eat mac and cheese for a month or whatever it takes to get to the Dr.  If you have cancer and you put this off it could be that you end up with late stage cancer & the bills are going to be a lot more than 90 dollars. Good luck

[VANative]

Hi msnelson, not to be repetitive, but I just want to reiterate how important it is to see a gynecological oncologist....not an obgyn or general oncologist...and there are doctors that will tell you its ok to see a generalist.  Dont !  All the research I have done recommends the specialist  and my own obgyn has recommended that I see a obgyn/oncologist due to the risk in my family (both Mother and Aunt have Ovarian Cancer).  There are symptoms, side effects , etc..that a specialist will be able to assess, test you for, and determine if you are truely faced with Ovarian Cancer.  I hope you are not, best wishes and prayers for you!    

[msnelson2006]

I called them. I have to fax my test results and ultrasound. They will call in a couple of days, get my income information and then will decide what I qualify for.
Thank you to all that led me in the right direction.

[msnelson2006]

I will...thank you very much... i appreciate the kindness and support i have been given from everyone on this site...Thank you all!!!

[crecco]

If Tampa is only an hour and a half away, I would be getting there as soon as possible. Like Jan said, you cannot just sit by and do nothing. There is a possibility that the Dr you see there could aslo help you to find a group to help you with the no insurance problem. Please do this as soon as possible. Many states also have public aid to help people with major medical expenses when they have no insurance. also try to see if you can get an appointment with a gyn/onc. They have more training than a regular gyn in matters like this.
  The hour and a half drive is nothing when you could be talking about your life. I have an hours drive everytime I see my Dr and for months had to drive 3 hours one way to see my gyn/onc.
  Get on the phone tomorrow my friend! and please let us know what you find out.
    Chris

[msnelson2006]

Tampa is an hour and a half away.It's good to know that there is some where close to go. For now I am going to concentrate on having surgery and go from there. Than you for your help.

[lucymullis]

How far are you from Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa?  It is a major comprehensive cancer center.  www.moffit.org.

You need to see a gyn/oncologist so I would focus on that for now.    If you are seen by a gyn/oncologist not close to you and need chemo, you can have follow up at a closer hospital.  For now, it is the most important thing.
  

[msnelson2006]

Thank you very much...I will keep trying...I will also keep you posted.

[dian07]

I can certainly understand your anxieties.  Here in Iowa we have the University of Iowa ....it is a teaching university with a med school.  I would think Gainesville would offer some help in that same arena.  The med school at the Iowa treats those of us who don't have insurance as well as those of us who do.  Those without insurance pay according to their income......you might want to check that out.  
If you hit a wall there, as Jan suggested, get on the phone.....even to the governor's office......let them know you are here with children, a husband who drives , and a job of your own......still unable to afford insurance and you need help!  No matter what happens, continue visiting the ER when needed ...... they cannot turn you away and if that is the only way you are able to get help you have no choice.  Hang in there and please do keep us posted.  
Peace.
dian

[msnelson2006]

I know this website is for those dealing with cancer or who have. But the fact that it possibly can be for me. It is very hard. No one can seem to relate and my husband doesn't know what to say or do. It's like traveling down a long, dark, cold and lonely road. It is very comforting to be able to talk to people that who have made it through or to get advice from someone who knows more about it.

[msnelson2006]

I am not sure why they wouldn't admit me. The e.r. dr. wanted me to go see the obgyn outside the hospital but wont without $90. Me, my husband and kids live check to check. In June I had medicaid. Now that they are saying that he makes too much, however, we cant afford insurance. The e.r. dr. said because of the rapid growth and my young age, that that is why they suspect cancer. I had an intenstinal prolapse, bowel pouch repair, vaginal suspension and right ovary removal. Had a regular cyst on my ovary and the dr. decided to take it...He actually thought they might have to take both. I have no idea why someone from oncology would not see me, I had to damn near tell the dr. to shut up so I could tell him whats wrong. That hospital is not a very good hospital, I have had several problems, but it is close and since my husband is a  truck driver who is always on the road I need to be close to home. I had share of cost through Dec. 31, but now have nothing. They will pay the hospital bill. All the doctors I called, none accepted share of cost. I have high risk of cancer because the last 3 generations of females on my moms side had some form of cancer. I have a history of reoccuring cysts. This is the first time I have had one of this type though.
Florida is the worst state to get help. I start school again Jan. 12 and it will probably be disrupted. I am terrified of what is going to happen.

[Jan214]

You can't just sit back and get worse. Every state has some form of health insurance for the uninsured and you have to find a way to get to a Dr NOW.  That is an EXTREMELY fast growing cyst. I don't understand what you mean by "because I am only 33..." because normally they wouldn't suspect cancer in someone so young, but at any rate you have got to have this taken care of.  

I am not quite sure what you think we can do for you. We can give you advice on what to do if it is cancer, or even if it is just an aggressive cyst, but there isn't really anything we can do for you until you get some kind of diagnosis.  When you went for a recheck last Monday did you go back to the hospital or did you go to a Dr?    Hospitals are way more expensive than an obgyn, so if you can afford to go to the ER you should be able to pay for an office visit.  There should be some Dr where you live that works on a sliding scale.  Have you gotten on the phone and called every agency in your city to find out what help is available to you?  There should be a patient advocate office at the hospital you go to and they should be able to help you get insurance.  They have a vested interest in helping you get insurance because they want to get paid.  We have several people on here who were uninsured, but Drs and hospitals pushed hard for them to get insurance and they got it.  If you have a Dr saying you might have cancer, you should qualify.


Why couldn't they admit you without an obgyn?  Was that the only obgyn at the hospital?  Surely there was more than one.  Why didn't they have someone from oncology see you?  I am sorry, but this is very confusing.  What led to your surgery in June and how did you pay for that surgery? You have a cyst that in six weeks time has gotten 5-6 times bigger and I am not sure why you haven't found some help since you found out about this a week ago. If it is growing that rapidly and if it is cancer you most definitely do not want it busting open.

On Monday if you haven't already, you need to start calling around and find out what help is available for you.  Like I said, I would start with the hospital and go from there.
Good luck.