Emotions and costs of BC

Since the initial shock of diagnosis I have had so many emotions and many new ones and unfortunately many old ones.  Something that has bothered me from Day one is the feeling that we, newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, are being preyed upon somewhat.  For me, at the news that I had invasive Breast cancer I presumed Id need to get "treatment" whatever that was ASAP and had never encountered any doctors or places anything to do with oncology - because I had "prayed" (although not religious) that I would NEVER need an oncologist.  
So the news that you need to choose a breast cancer doctor and see one asap is a big shock and still reeling from the diagnosis I floundered asking the Breastscreen who they would recommend.  Of course they can't recommend.  And as far as I know there isn't a rating system like the Myschool website that lists and scores doctors in any one field.  
So where to start -  I got a list of three surgeons from the Breastscreen people and they advised the chap Id seen who'd given me the diagnosis was on the list so I thought Id choose him since he already knew me and my diagnosis.  quick call to my daughter (GP Practice Mngr) who confirmed he was the No. 1 - so I rang and made an appointment.
The rooms were very upmarket and at a ONE STOP building I learned later that held the womens imaging centre, pathology laboratories, radiation facilities, chemotherapy treatment facilities and oncologists in the one building.  The receptionists were very lovely and particularly personable and I was impressed by their personal attention.  
After consultation with the Dr and date scheduled for surgery I was given a few documents to take home and read and sign and take them to the hospital before date of surgery.  The out of pocket costs were huge.  $3000-4000 right there.  And I thought "well no time to get a second opinion or to get quotes so we'll get this done and question the accounts as we go along".   
To my surprise MRI's that I had had for fifteen years that were free were no longer covered for women (over 50) diagnosed with BS.  Bone density was not covered for 50+ with BC. Ultra sounds and biopsies were not covered and even as a pensioner and with top medical insurance the total bill within the two weeks of surgery and tests after came to $7000 out of pocket.  
With the emotions of being newly diagnosed and coming to terms with the cancer, the new terminologies, new doctors, panic, rush I felt like id been used to sell services to me at any cost because I had no time to get second opinions.  I did ask the receptionists at the breast surgeons rooms if the quote they had given me was correct given I was an and pensioner and usually had been bulk billed for all illness before this.  Her reply was _ all people are charged the same across the board". A sort of take it or leave it attitude - which of course we can't really leave it as Id lost the list of other breast surgeons by this stage.  The surgeon required full payment of the gap prior to admission to hospital for the surgery.  The hospital also required any gap payment prior to admission.
The anaesthetist also charged well above the scheduled fee and required a gap payment prior to admission to surgery.  South Coast Radiology required payment at the time of each and every test I had with them and when I received the refunds from Medicare was bitterly disappointed to find that I had paid in excess of $1000 just in gap payments to SCR.  
The feelings of being ripped off at a time when I was extremely vulnerable made my anxiety and emotions stronger.  But I felt compelled to be unable to complain and that I should be grateful. So the emotions were confusing - I was angry that the government had stopped subsidising MRI for women with breast cancer - WHY. Also the ultra sounds subsidies had been reduced severely for again seniors - why?  I was angry that drug addicts seem to be able to access free needles and a clean place to shoot up and receive substitute drugs for a condition that is illegal to take drugs in the first place.  The emotions and thoughts were racing around in my brain-  Does this government want women with breast cancer over 50 to just die if they can't afford treatment?  Why are we charged so much?  When I had my hip replacement I was able to shop around for the best surgeon who happened to bulk bill everything.  He was fabulous.  Here I am now in a life threatening state of health with cancer and Im not afforded the time or any help with ways of reducing the costs of treatment and in fact feels like Im being punished for getting cancer and being a senior.