Newly diagnosed

Oh, true, that is a bit far away for a day trip :)  I know that the oncologist assigned to me will bulk bill my appointment/s with him and I think my Medibank insurance will cover the actual chemo.  I just hope it doesn't go on for 18 weeks like I have been reading of other people. I'm not having radiation thankfully.  How long is your chemo scheduled for?  How are you coping with any side effects if any?  Did your hair start falling out just before the second round?

Sorry i did mean to mention that but forgot. I am in country South Australia and have to travel to Adelaide for appointments and chemo. Not much help for you sorry but feel free to ask me anything. Happy to help.

Hi ammo, can I ask where and who you went to for chemo please?

Cas

Hi Tina. I am 45 and a stay at home mum with 4 children aged 14 down to 6. So i can certainly feel your pain with the expense of it all. I was all set to go back to work to help out now my youngest at school but that will have to wait now. We were told to wait in the waiting room of my surgeon while an appointment was made for my head to toe bone scan and mri. The receptionist couldnt tell us wot it was going to cost and i said to my husband not knowing the cost waz more terrifying than the actual cancer. In the end she did find out and it was under $200 as she arranged for us to only pay the gap thank goodness. My surgeon bulk bills which helps and i have Medibank Private. Paid $500 excess for my mastectomy and lymph node removal. Have since had another surgery to put a port in and paid nothing. Just had 2nd dose chemo and no bills and they gave me lunch and morning tea. Dont be afraid to ask questions aboutcost, my medical team are always happy to discuss. Hope this helps. As if we dont have enough to worry about. Wishing you all the best x

Hi Tina. I am 45 and a stay at home mum with 4 children aged 14 down to 6. So i can certainly feel your pain with the expense of it all. I was all set to go back to work to help out now my youngest at school but that will have to wait now. We were told to wait in the waiting room of my surgeon while an appointment was made for my head to toe bone scan and mri. The receptionist couldnt tell us wot it was going to cost and i said to my husband not knowing the cost waz more terrifying than the actual cancer. In the end she did find out and it was under $200 as she arranged for us to only pay the gap thank goodness. My surgeon bulk bills which helps and i have Medibank Private. Paid $500 excess for my mastectomy and lymph node removal. Have since had another surgery to put a port in and paid nothing. Just had 2nd dose chemo and no bills and they gave me lunch and morning tea. Dont be afraid to ask questions aboutcost, my medical team are always happy to discuss. Hope this helps. As if we dont have enough to worry about. Wishing you all the best x

Hi Trina,
I'm Cas, I live down on the Gold Coast at Arundel (the Helensvale end).  I'm 53 and I was diagnosed with breast cancer in early October.  I nearly had heart failure at the cost of one surgeon and his cronies.  Fortunately I was recommended a different surgeon by a family member who is a citologist (medical scientist).  I went to Dr John Gault who is at Bundall.  He was half the price of the other surgeon I saw.  I was operated on at Pindara, it wasn't horrendously expensive, I have top hospital with Medibank Private and only $250 excess.  I'm a student so most of my specialists have bulk billed me so no out of pocket.  I know that no one tells you these things you just have to figure them out along the way.  You can email me if you like and I'll tell you what I know so far.  I've had my mastectomy (one side only), had the CT scan, bone scan and I'm just getting ready to see an oncologist about chemo.
My email:  casjsa@bigpond.com

Cas xxx