Can you put a price on an extended period of time added to your life?

GregP_WN
GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
edited April 2021 in General Cancer
I didn't think so either, but then we got the hospital bill for my laryngectomy surgery. So, the best I can add it up so far, we are pushing $500K and the number it says I owe is 164,000.00. First things first, I wonder if they take checks? I'll just fire one off to them and take care of that. Second, the "extended period of time" added to my life, yet to be determined.

I better get busy living! It's time for me and Sweetie to take a trip!

Comments

  • legaljen1969
    legaljen1969 Member Posts: 763
    edited April 2020
    Take that trip. Live your life. I hope you have a lengthy "undetermined" addition of time to your life. You are such an inspiration and positive role model. Enjoy your life with "sweetie."
  • faithfully58
    faithfully58 Member Posts: 27
    edited April 2020
    You better check your glasses!The amount it says you owe is $329,000.00 !You're just off couple hundred thousand...
  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 329
    edited April 2020
    Just don't contract Corona while enjoying life!

    I suppose in my case, 12 years has cost something like 2 million+. It would be closer to 3, but the various clinical trial drugs I have received (one for 4 1/2 years) were comped since I was a study subject.
  • meyati
    meyati Member Posts: 308
    edited April 2020
    They are still working on my biopsies. I'm glad they aren't charging me for that. First that surgery spreads it. Then they said if I could have had it removed 2 years earlier that I wouldn't of had any cancer treatment-I had it for 28 years-that sent me back trying to turn my hate disgust to most of NM doctors, anyway turn it over to god. I still get going. Then this is some weird form of Gorlin Syndrome. Every few years they come up with a new discovery--
  • GregP_WN
    GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
    edited April 2020
    OOPs, I missed a couple of hundred thousand. Oh well, I'll scrape that up out of our change jug.
  • JaneA
    JaneA Member Posts: 335
    edited April 2020
    Since the amounts of our bills are not in the range that is financially possible, I just figured that they could get "blood from the turnip."

    Every life is precious, and there isn't a price tag that is sufficient.
  • Teachertina
    Teachertina Member Posts: 205
    edited April 2020
    I just have a running tab with my hospital that will never be paid off in my lifetime, no matter how long it is. It’s like the never ending house payment! Good thing I did get my house paid off anyway! So far my extra 14 years have been worth every penny!
  • SandiA
    SandiA Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2020
    I don’t think you can! I was given 3
    Years and this year will be six years so I’ll definitely take the extra three and hoping for even more
  • GregP_WN
    GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
    edited April 2020
    We went to Vandy again today to see my doctor about these pains I have in my neck. I've had a stinging, burning, pain on the right side when I swallow. Almost in the same spot where the original lesion was. And on the left side, I have a sore, hard spot that cannot be felt all the way around because of the scar tissue. It was concerning enough that she ordered a CT scan and because the hospital was almost empty I was able to go right to the radiology department and have it done. I figured I would have to wait till next week.

    There are a couple of possibilities other than the worst. So let's concentrate on those.
  • LiveWithCancer
    LiveWithCancer Member Posts: 470
    edited April 2020
    Praying those CT scans show it is one of the less scary possibilities, Greg. I think you've had enough experience with cancer... When will you get the results? Did they do a biopsy or are they waiting on the scans to be read?
  • GetItOut
    GetItOut Member Posts: 10
    edited April 2020
    Anymore hospital and doctor bills are like cartoons. You know what they are supposed to be but they don't seem real. Where will the madness stop?
  • GregPWN
    GregPWN Member Posts: 11
    edited April 2020
    Live, the doctor said she would have results on Monday. So I hope I will hear something then. No biopsy yet, she said she would look at this first then make a plan for anything else, a biopsy would be next. The spot in my throat that hurts when I swallow she described as a red spot that looks like an irritation and "didn't look like cancer". Also, positive comment was that it's too early to expect a recurrence from surgery only 3 months out with clean margins. So, there's hope to hang my hat on.
  • GregPWN
    GregPWN Member Posts: 11
    edited April 2020
    I did it again, my first answer in this, a couple of posts up where I described our visit yesterday....I lost track of what I was supposed to be posting and went on a side trip on something else. Ever have that happen? Yeah, me either.

    So we were talking about how expensive my bill has gotten for all of this. When the doctor suggested we get a CT scan I thought that there's no need to worry about cost at this point. What's another 5 to 8 K added to about a half-million?
  • Carool
    Carool Member Posts: 787
    edited April 2020
    Greg, I hope your results are excellent.

  • Bug
    Bug Member Posts: 393
    edited April 2020
    Good luck, Greg! Looking forward to hearing your results.
  • andreacha
    andreacha Member Posts: 196
    edited April 2020
    Greg - It HAS to be alright. Just HAS to. You've had far more than your share. Prayers for good news.
  • Paperpusher
    Paperpusher Member Posts: 78
    edited April 2020
    We not be able to put a price on life but the medical and pharmaceutical industries do.
  • meyati
    meyati Member Posts: 308
    edited April 2020
    PaperPusher-Don't forget the insurance company-if we die in a plane crash or in a hospital for them cutting the wrong leg off--the insurance companies say we really aren't worth much at all
  • petieagnor
    petieagnor Member Posts: 110
    Gosh! You all are all over the place. There is no price tag on any extension of your life. Life is Priceless. Yes, you can put the cost of care, treatment, drugs, tests, etc. But each day is priceless.