Testicular cancer with no insurance

**NotxMe** · 07-26-12, 11:11 PM

I'm 31 with no insurance. The past 3 weeks I realize something was wrong with my testicle. It was normal and had to go see the doctor. I didn't have a lot of money but a supportive gf and family. My gf told me to go see one so I did. Told my doctor I had no insurance and I wouldn't be here unless I knew something was wrong. He checked me out and told me to go see a urologist right away. He is not ruling out cancer, lost and confused he said if you have no insurance this could be expensive. I relied on a clients referral to see a urologist the next day. He checked me out and told me its a tumor and will require surgery. I'm sure I would of
Felt a little better if I knew I had an insurance but I don't. The thought of having this in me was killing me mentally. Im scared. The urologist said this cancer has a 95% survival rate. Inside Im thinking I was unlucky enough to get it what makes me think I won't fall I'm that 5%. He also mention if I go to the free clinics, it's not for sure when you'll be schedule in for surgery. It could be 2 weeks, 2 months or 1 year. Its currently the size of a egg and very hard. I can feel it when i walk and its grtting uncomfortable. So i had some question for u fellow surivors. How big did yours get until you had surgery? How long did wait for surgery between the time you were diagnose?

Please help.

**hismom** · 07-26-12, 11:36 PM

You CANNOT wait on this. There are several different types of testicular cancer. There is no way of knowing what you are dealing with until the mass is removed and sent off for pathology and staging.

You don't say where you live, so I can't suggest specific places for you to go to get this taken care of, however, if the free clinic in your area is not able to help you then you should go to a county or state hospital. They have hardship programs that you can apply for upon admission and social workers who can guide you through the procedures and options in your locality.

Please do not delay and keep us posted.

**nciungan** · 07-26-12, 11:44 PM

Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate. I personally waited 3 weeks to see a doctor because my pride got in the way but had the surgery rather quickly after, you did the right thing by going. My tumor was pretty large but it doesn't necessarily correlate to the stage of disease.

You need to get the surgery and get the ball rolling. I would start doing some research online to see what options you have available. There may be something through your state or locally. I can safely say you aren't the first person to go through this without insurance so there is a wealth of information available through cancer.org and other websites.

**NotxMe** · 07-27-12, 12:11 AM

My urologist said he left the 1st week of August open for my surgey. I plan on doing it around regardless of what happens with insurance. I'm just scared , would that be too late? The doc said I should be ok if I do it then. I just don't know

**Davepet** · 07-27-12, 02:03 AM

I have lots of questions for you:

1-Where are you? This may help us help you find resources.

2- Have you had an ultrasound scan? This can tell you & us a lot about your problem.

3- How long has it been swollen? The size of an egg normally doesn't happen overnight, at least without some injury.

Now a few other things:

Inside Im thinking I was unlucky enough to get it what makes me think I won't fall I'm that 5%.

Don't play mind games with yourself, every one of us here was unlucky enough to get TC, but 95% of us survive anyway.

He also mention if I go to the free clinics, it's not for sure when you'll be schedule in for surgery.

Call the free clinic & ask how long, might surprise you, & no harm in trying.

How big did yours get until you had surgery

My first time it was twice the other testicle, my second time, it was actually smaller. Yours is too big to ignore, get it checked out now & pay later, if you have to.

How long did wait for surgery between the time you were diagnose

First time, I had an enlarged testicle due to an injury for about 2 years. It apparently turned into cancer during that time. Second time I could feel something wrong almost a year before I went to the doc. I waited too long & had to do 3xBEP that time.

Hope that tells you what you need ,
Dave

**Paul54** · 07-27-12, 05:11 AM

I agree that you shouldn't wait. Go to a hospital, especially one that is supported by public funds. You could start in the ER "in pain". They have to treat your immediate symptons and it would be your entry to the system. Deal with the costs later. Unfortunately, you aren't alone in the uninsured portion of the population.

Best wishes,
Paul

**scozzie** · 07-27-12, 04:14 PM

Hey man, we all feel your pain right now, this disease is more than enough to deal with without the added financial worries, but like the others have said deal with the disease and then worry about the costs. I live in Australia and I don't have any insurance either and I have to say that I left my TC without treatment for way to long simply because I worried about the costs. But at the time I didn't understand how the medical system worked having only been in Australia for a few years, I am originally from the UK. As it turned out the system here is not quite as brutal as the U.S, all I have had to pay for is the referrals to the specialists but all the treatments have been funded by the public system. What I am trying to say is there will be a way to have this fixed and probably faster than you think. Get a friend wheel you into the E.R in a shopping cart or something and say you are in agony, they will not turn you away
When it comes to T.C size definstly doesn't matter, I began to realize that I had a problem mainly due to the fact that my leftie shrunk to about half the size of the other with 3 small tumours all under 5mm, thankfully it was the easiest type to treat, I have 1 shot of carbo and now have to wait another 6 weeks for a CT and bloods then I reckon I will be done with it for ever. And I am confident that in a few weeks you will be saying the same thing.

**GeorgiaDawg** · 07-27-12, 05:34 PM

Hey man I was in your same shoes back in January. I know exactly how you feel but there is help. You can get insurance for your pre-existing condition as I did. As far as I know its valid for every state. Go to www.pcip.gov and fill out an app now. You'll have coverage very quickly in less than a month. All you have to do to qualify is be without insurance the last 12 months, get a letter from the doctor and be able to pay the premiums. It really is that easy and I couldn't believe it. It's proven to be a life saver for me. Don't hesitate and apply for it now.

Best of luck to you..

**cbvance** · 07-27-12, 08:07 PM

My testicle was about twice the size of my other and hard as a rock, Fortunately I had a seminoma which is slowest type of all but some types of TC are very aggressive so don't delay. Do what Georgia Dawg suggested and get some insurance, they can't deny you anymore! The sooner you get that thing out the sooner you can get the right treatment and get on with your life.

Good luck!

**NotxMe** · 07-28-12, 12:17 PM

Thank you so much for all your support. Yesterday as I went to the restroom, my pee wasn't feeling normal. I started feeling around my testicle and notice my epididymis was swollen. With everyones suggestion, I told my sister to take me to the ER. I just wanted it out of me. This was killing me mentally and physically. The ER took an ultrasound and told me it was cancer. I took it pretty well knowing I already had it. I told the doctor my situation.

Just 2 days ago, Kaiser approve me for insurance effective Aug 1st. Obamacare has been in effect for the past year or two. GOSH why didn't someone tell me this before?? Anyways, I told the ER doctor and she said from the look of your ultrasound, you can wait until Aug 1st however call them right away and let them know you went to the ER and had an ultrasound already. Try to schedule surgery on Aug 1st since you have all paperwork.

Im starting to feel a little better now. These next couple of days is going to be really long but my old self is starting to come back. I'm starting to laugh more. Why not battle this cancer with laughter. I can only try. I will keep everybody updated.

**Scott** · 07-28-12, 01:35 PM

I'm so glad to read that things are moving along now. Keep us posted. You'll pull through this just fine.

**nciungan** · 07-29-12, 04:38 PM

Great to hear. Get that bad boy outta there.

**mpalka6** · 07-29-12, 10:22 PM

Great to hear that. We all know how you feel. We were waiting a week for surgery. Good luck!

**NotxMe** · 08-02-12, 03:25 PM

Just an update. Went to hospital and they took my blood test, chest xray and ct scan. I/O is schedule for Monday 8/6. Doctor called me this morning telling me chest xray and ct scan came back good. Looks like it hasn't spread. Thanks for everybody support.

**1lessball2answr** · 08-02-12, 03:55 PM

Hey, that's really great news about your CTs. Let us know when you get results from your blood work. Don't stress about the surgery too much, it's not so bad. Hang in there!

**NotxMe** · 08-07-12, 02:06 PM

just did i/o yesterday. it wasnt bad at all. checked in at 1230. took care of paper work and changed out of my clothes. doctors came in asked me a bunch of question. it was 230 and they take gave me "happy juice". took me in to surgery table and gave me some oxygen. next thing i know i was waking up. everything was done. i was little sore. made me wear a jock strap. left at around 6pm. laid in bed all night high on pain meds. they said i can start walking the next day. very uncomfortable getting up and sitting down. had a very hard time peeing the first time. felt like i was peeing in myself. took me 10 minutes to finish.

they said im at stage 1 and it's non-seminomas. ill found out more soon. thanks for everybody support