Reply #11: Timing couldn't be better for me too.

[Auntie Bush]

We heard recently that my husband's kidney cancer has returned for the third time. Damn! He had his left kidney removed in 2001. Then in Fall of 2004 they found a huge tumor where his kidney was in his abdomen on his spine. While testing for that they found he also had colon cancer. Soooo in Dec.'04 they operated and successfully pealed the tumor off his spine but had to remove his colon except for about a foot. The operation almost killed him...

He was in intensive care for 6 weeks of the two months he was hospitalized and he lost 40 pounds. Long story!

But he survived and was doing fine till last month when they found two more kidney cancer tumors (metastasized)in the lymph nodes on the right side of his abdomen on his spine. He was told they were inoperable and were going to start him on a new Chemo (when we could find a way to pay for it) which was just approved by the FDA a couple months ago. Before this there was no Chemo for kidney cancer so we felt pretty lucky. That was until we found out even with Medicare Prescription drug coverage it would cost us $2600.00 the first month and them about $1500.00 the second month. Then about $300.00 per month after that till December. Then we start all over again at $3600. How depressing!

To make a long story shorter...we checked out the VA last week for a second opinion and they said they would try to pull strings and get his surgeon to operate. Turns out the chemo only prolongs life for about 4 months. So you can see...we are really hoping for an operation. Kidney Cancer usually keeps coming back and readily spreads to other organs. He had a PET-Scan two weeks ago and it showed that the cancer had NOT spread anywhere else...thank God!

Sooooo as it stands now...the surgeons and Kidney Oncologists are having a conference to see if they can operate. Hubby was scheduled today for a day of tests on Monday and an MRI next Monday...then a conference that afternoon to go over all the tests and determine if they can operate...if it hasn't spread. So please all...say a prayer...we need it!

By the way...we found out the VA can get him the Chemo when and if he needs it for $8.00 a month. Can you believe it???!!!! So if you or someone you know has ever been in the military...don't forget the VA!
And let's hope bush* doesn't cut any more funding.