Brain cancer is...
...appreciating the day's paperwork. No, really!
Back at home = back to cancer-related paperwork...in a good way. Here are today's three great pieces of paperwork.
This image from the letter we received today shows the results of an independent medical review of the claim. It states that now (just a year later), genetic screening is standard of care for GBM and can potentially affect patient outcomes positively. We are thrilled for the families whose cancers can now be treated with the expanding arsenal of GBM weapons.**
Great Paperwork #1
(Not pictured.) Upon Darrell's diagnosis, we filed paperwork to allow me to speak on his behalf with the insurance company and various medical agencies. Great news! It turns out that that paperwork expires every year. Today we filled out another set of forms. What an awesome paperwork task with which to be faced! Another year!Great Paperwork #2
Today we learned that the cost of Darrell's "genomic analysis" would indeed be covered by insurance. We had support from Foundation One--for which we are very grateful--so for us the victory was not monetary. The insurance company originally declined to pay for the admittedly very costly genetic screening on the grounds that such testing was "experimental" and thus not part of the "standard of care" treatment for GBM*
This image from the letter we received today shows the results of an independent medical review of the claim. It states that now (just a year later), genetic screening is standard of care for GBM and can potentially affect patient outcomes positively. We are thrilled for the families whose cancers can now be treated with the expanding arsenal of GBM weapons.**
Great Paperwork #3
Since Darrell's diagnosis, we switched from keeping electronic calendars to keeping a paper calendar because it's more transportable. (Don't ask.) Here's a picture of the corner of our calendar:
To minimize calendar bulkiness, we only print out a couple months at a time and staple them on as we go. Today we added three more pages, for fall 2017. Here's to another staple!
We hope that any paperwork you did today was, similarly, paperwork worthy of appreciation.
8:22 p.m Update: Today Senator John McCain was diagnosed with GBM. Click here for CNN's report. Our hearts go out to the Senator and his family.
*Our insurance company has been supportive overall, and people there have typically been kind and caring. Our happiness is not that anyone needs to pay thousands of dollars for testing but that this decision so clearly signals rapid advances in the field. Finally. The treatment of GBM has been static for many many years, before game changers like Temozolomide (Darrell's chemo drug), Optune, and targeted therapies.
**Side note: There are still no genetic therapies targeted for Darrell's specific tumor markers, but as we say, this particular field of cancer treatment is moving fast.
We hope that any paperwork you did today was, similarly, paperwork worthy of appreciation.
8:22 p.m Update: Today Senator John McCain was diagnosed with GBM. Click here for CNN's report. Our hearts go out to the Senator and his family.
*Our insurance company has been supportive overall, and people there have typically been kind and caring. Our happiness is not that anyone needs to pay thousands of dollars for testing but that this decision so clearly signals rapid advances in the field. Finally. The treatment of GBM has been static for many many years, before game changers like Temozolomide (Darrell's chemo drug), Optune, and targeted therapies.
**Side note: There are still no genetic therapies targeted for Darrell's specific tumor markers, but as we say, this particular field of cancer treatment is moving fast.
happy paperwork day(s). mine were good when i was able to get some shredding done too! on year 2003!! progress. dwindling down my Just In Case" Files!!
ReplyDeleteYay Franceen! Shredding is sooo satisfying!
ReplyDelete