1. < Cancer: Managing Symptoms
Moderator

Are you getting cancer treatments during COVID-19?

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Mar 26, 2020

Are you getting cancer treatments at the moment? What about diagnostic tests, like blood tests, CT scans, mammography, PET scans etc? Is your surgery going ahead as planned or postponed?
I'd like to hear from you. What is like being in treatment during the COVID-19 crisis? How are you doing?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

lioness | @lioness | Apr 1, 2020

@gingerw I just found out one of the ladies here who didn't listen unfortunately didn't listen to stay in came in contact with a person who also didn't listen now she is in quarantine for 2 weeks. Luckily for her she is in good health now I do have her mailbox key so will get her mail for her .

REPLY
seaspray | @seaspray | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@seaspray- Hello. I'm glad that you are staying at home. I have an autoimmune disease that..." + (show)
@merpreb

@seaspray- Hello. I'm glad that you are staying at home. I have an autoimmune disease that has been dormant for many years and I also have stage 4 lung cancer. Most people's symptoms show up within 14 days (give or take) but the transmission of the virus can take up to a month. If you have been offered testing I'd take it too. I'm also wondering what the time difference is between your self-quarantine and going to Mayo.
This is a complete and easy to understand video from Mayo Clinic. You will really benefit from watching it!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-coronovirus/?pg=15#comment-381831

Jump to this post

Merry - I am not understanding your reply to me. As I said, I have been only at my home for 14 days, if not longer, before going to Mayo this Monday and Tuesday for radiation. Why would I take the test when I was only just then exposed? Nothing would show up and that is a waste.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @seaspray "Merry - I am not understanding your reply to me. As I said, I have been..." + (show)
@seaspray

Merry - I am not understanding your reply to me. As I said, I have been only at my home for 14 days, if not longer, before going to Mayo this Monday and Tuesday for radiation. Why would I take the test when I was only just then exposed? Nothing would show up and that is a waste.

Jump to this post

@seaspray. I'm sorry for the confusion. I know that the test isn't the most comfortable and that the results aren't always reliable but it must be Mayo's standard right now prior to entry or procedures. If someone's test does turn out positive then they caught someone in time so that they can be isolated. Best of luck.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@seaspray. I'm sorry for the confusion. I know that the test isn't the most comfortable and..." + (show)
@merpreb

@seaspray. I'm sorry for the confusion. I know that the test isn't the most comfortable and that the results aren't always reliable but it must be Mayo's standard right now prior to entry or procedures. If someone's test does turn out positive then they caught someone in time so that they can be isolated. Best of luck.

Jump to this post

@merpreb, COVID-19 testing has not yet become a standard part of screening for entry at hospitals. Have you experienced otherwise?

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @colleenyoung "@merpreb, COVID-19 testing has not yet become a standard part of screening for entry at hospitals...." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@merpreb, COVID-19 testing has not yet become a standard part of screening for entry at hospitals. Have you experienced otherwise?

Jump to this post

@collenyoung- No I haven't been hospitalized nor read anything about it. It was a suggestion that it might be their standard.

REPLY
seaspray | @seaspray | Apr 1, 2020

Mayo (in Florida) has opened their testing to any Mayo patient. Unfortunately as of yesterday, they were not testing the doctor's or nurses who btw, were NOT wearing masks.

REPLY
2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @seaspray "Mayo (in Florida) has opened their testing to any Mayo patient. Unfortunately as of yesterday, they..." + (show)
@seaspray

Mayo (in Florida) has opened their testing to any Mayo patient. Unfortunately as of yesterday, they were not testing the doctor's or nurses who btw, were NOT wearing masks.

Jump to this post

@seaspray- from your post you said that they wanted to test you. Do you know why?

REPLY
elizm | @elizm | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@merpreb One of the things I was thinking about is exactly that. It may come to..." + (show)
@gingerw

@merpreb One of the things I was thinking about is exactly that. It may come to pass that the medical practices may move more towards telemedicine when possible, using telephone or video appts when applicable. Then my mind wanders to those in our population who see their appt as a solid connection with healthgivers, a person to speak to and touch them. It's a delicate balance.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@merpreb @gingerw @colleenyoung
I've read that PCPs (and probably specialists, as well) are in trouble financially due to the shelter-in-place practice, despite some televisits and email exchanges. This brings to mind the question, do insurance companies and Medicare allow them to bill for such work? Does anyone know?

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Apr 1, 2020

@elizm , I can only answer for myself. When I found out I had a tele-visit scheduled, I called Blue Cross to see if they would cover. My insurance is IBM retiree (pre-medicare) insurance and the customer representative told me IBM had changed their policy to cover.

I suggest anyone with employee or private insurance to call and verify coverage prior to tele-visit.

Laurie

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @elizm "@merpreb @gingerw @colleenyoung I've read that PCPs (and probably specialists, as well) are in trouble financially..." + (show)
@elizm

@merpreb @gingerw @colleenyoung
I've read that PCPs (and probably specialists, as well) are in trouble financially due to the shelter-in-place practice, despite some televisits and email exchanges. This brings to mind the question, do insurance companies and Medicare allow them to bill for such work? Does anyone know?

Jump to this post

@elizm- excellent question. I think that most pcp's work for a hospital system now. They are businesses so they probably are taking a financial hit love like a lot of businesses. I'm sure that whatever they do for work that they will be compensated. My worry are all of the medical personnel who have lost their lives and those who are in harm's way.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.