I am happy to report that my brother has been told his cancer is gone. At least that is what the follow up pet-scans and blood tests show. He had a tumor on his tongue that was choking him and was in stage 3 cancer. He has certainly been to hell and back with the chemo, radiation and feeding tube. Though his hair is coming back in a little too white and too little he is grateful to be alive he says. He has had most of his taste buds burned off, but last night he was able to taste Roquefort dressing again and he was so pleased to be returning to a degree of normalacy. Even though he never wanted to get on this web-site, it helped me with the questions I had and some answers I passed on to him. He realizes that he will have to go for follow up tests every six months for the rest of his life now, but is grateful to the state of California for the medical program coupled with Medicare that helped him pay for the extreme amount of money is has cost for his state of the art laser treatments and mouse blood derivitive chemo treatments. He realizes that if he was middle class or rich he wouldn't have qualified, so he is one happy artist he always complained about being poor. If he hadn't qualified for this program he feels he wouldn't be around anymore. Sad, but true about our health care system here in the United States. Thanks for everyone who responded to my posts and God bless all of you in your journey. Diana Campbell Write to me anyone who would like to correspond with a journalist, who is going to document this experience. scoop_legare@yahoo.com

Glad to hear that your brother is doing so well. I agree with you whole-heartedly about the state of the health care system here in the US. I applied for assistance here in Michigan, but was turned down flat because I don't have dependents, I wasn't going to be disabled for a year or more (the Family Independence Agency employs psychics?), and--here's the kicker--I made too much money in 2004 to qualify for anything. It's hard to imagine how you can make too much money when you spend the bulk of the year "between assignments" (the joys of temping). Fortunately I had a friend in the Charity Care office of the hospital where Flappy (my tongue) was born. I applied and was given church mouse status (as in "poor as a..."), so everything was covered.

I've been cancer free since my surgery, so I didn't need radiation or chemo.

May all good things come your brother's way!

Julia

Hi Scoop and Julia. I can hardly believe what I read about your health care system. I know countries are bound to be varied in the way they treat patients but when you're faced with serious disease you shouldn't have to worry about paying for treatment.
I had a bit of hassle getting some of our state benefits but got them sorted in the end with my McMillan nurses help. I never had to worry about money for treatment though. All the best, Hagg.

Hi guys, Yes the US system forhelth is very bad.
Vicki(proud ok) on here downsized houses to raise money for her treatment.
We are very lucky here.
Paul

It seems like cancer patients (amongst others) in the US get s**t on from a great height. Hagg.

Hi Hagg

I'm increasingly of the impression that all boils down to politics (and, frankly, this year, politics is giving me boils). I don't know about Scoops' brother, but I felt shat upon and basically screwed. Maybe if I'd needed RT and Chemo, there would have been some money for me somewhere. As it was, my doctor told my family that he'd waive his fee for my surgery. (Maybe that's why I get shown off during clinic visits--working it off?) My doctor is actually from Canada where the number of practitioners in any given field is limited, so I guess I've indirectly benefitted from the their system.

I guess it is all down to politics julia but it seems weird from here. The NHS might have it's faults but I had no problems with it and dont think I could have had better care. It was nice of your Dr to waive his fee for the surgery. Hagg.