I hope this isn't too personal but how did the financial aspect of oral cancer cost? Did insurance cover most of yours? I am 21 and think i have oral cancer...go monday for another check up(went in december everything was good) but i have a sketchy area or two I am worried about. I dipped for 3 and a half years so i am a little worried. I am a total worrier though so it might be nothing. Good thing I have the lord by my side he is amazing. Its not the dying i am afraid of its i just don't want to leave my family bankrupt which never occured to me until 3 years into my habit...if i had thought of that before i wouldn't have started.

Hi Lefty

I hope you don't mind me calling you by your first name (lol).

Congratulations on quitting dip--now keep quit!

I was uninsured when I was first diagnosed with stage 2 SCC, but the hospital where I was treated (University of Michigan) had a wonderful charity care office at the time and they covered me. My week's stay would have been approximately $38,000; that was without any complications and does not include my doctor's fees.

The day my parents and I went in for the initial consult and biopsy, my mom asked the doctor if tongue cancer was fatal. "I've never lost anyone to this" was his answer and it really buoyed my spirits.

My surgery was tremendously successful, although it was hardly my idea of a good time. In fact, my doctor uses pictures of my tongue in his med school classes and now has several students who are keen on doing the operation.

Oral cancer isn't always fatal, but it really depends on the stage and whether or not it's spread. My tumor was restricted to my tongue so I was really, really lucky. Dr Joshi would be the best person on the site to address that risk though.

Good luck on Monday. Let us know what happens.

Julia

Hi Lefty,

Insurance covered pretty nearly everything. I had a few co-pays ($10 each) to shell out and I bought some over-the-counter products with my own money. One prescription (Caphosol) wasn't covered by insurance and was quite expensive; however, the doc's office was able to get it for me as a sales sample from the pharm company. Some products, like Biotene, were in little gift bags that were free at the doc's office, placed there by the manufacturer. I'd say all-in-all I spent about $100 or less for everything. If you don't have insurance, it's a whole 'nother story.

A few years ago I had a conversation with an uninsured guy undergoing radiation for prostate cancer. His rads bill alone was $98,000. The hospital (Mercy General) made arrangements with him and reduced the bill to $17,000, payable over a ten year period.

If you are an unmarried adult without assets or insurance, 'the system' will take care of you and your family isn't responsible for your bills. The treatment you get will be no different than what a fully insured person gets. You have to make all the arrangements though, starting with your doctor's office, the social workers at the hospital you're assigned to, the American Cancer Society, etc. If you are insured, depending upon the type of policy, you may have some out-of-pocket expenses as I did, or you may have a large deductible. Lots of variables!

Oh - I nearly forgot! Dr. J. has some excellent information about financial help. Go to the Helpful Tips forum and click on Financial Help (U.S.A.) or click here:

Financial Questions

Best of luck to you!

Mimi