My father is 86 and will likely be enrolling in hospice within the next month due to congestive heart failure. We suspect he may also have lung and/or prostate cancer based on tests taken during a recent ER visit. He has a supplemental insurance policy that will pay out based on a cancer diagnosis. Should I pursue testing to get a diagnosis so we can file a claim? Part of me says, he's been paying for it all these years so let's get the benefit of having it. The other part of me says let's not put him through any more testing than absolutely necessary. We will not be treating either cancer if confirmed. I am waiting for specific instructions from the insurance carrier as to what they need from us to process a claim. I don't want to put him through a bunch of testing just for the money, but why leave the money on the table? It's a $10K policy, so sizeable enough to consider pursuing.
You are trying to make decisions based on not knowing all the information. Ask the doctor what tests are involved to determine your dad has cancer? A simple and painless PET scan may be all that's required. I have one every 3 months and it requires an IV for 3 minutes, then a CT scan. A bone marrow biopsy is only used for certain types of cancer....my husband had one and yelped for 3 seconds, and that was it. Get all the info and know what you're dealing with before you leave 10k on the table. Money that can help make dad's end of life a bit more luxurious.
I'm sorry you're going through this whole ordeal, both of you. Wishing you good luck and Godspeed as you move forward.
My bone marrow biopsy involved drilling into the ileac crest of my hip (the highest part of the pelvic bones, in the back, and sucking out some bone marrow and cutting a portion of bone. Novocain on the skin only. I was laying on my stomach, told DO NOT MOVE as the Dr performed this procedure. I was biting on a towel to keep from screaming. (I'm no wuss, I delivered 5-10 lb babies and those were cake walks by comparison!)
Pet Scans are painless and actually kind of nice. (They are also considered a gold standard for cancer dx).
I had a large lymph node in my neck aspirated to get some cells. No Novocain, just 'this won't take long' AND DON'T MOVE!
Every cancer has its ow protocols so if you decide to go forward with dad, ASK QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND.
I learned the hard way to ask for a fentanyl lollipop during invasive tests where I had to be awake.
I also am wondering about a $10K 'policy'. Is it health insurance add on or life insurance?
So--IDK, how much do you want to put your dad through? Not that $10K is a paltry amount, but my bills for one biopsy of lymph nodes in my neck were over $10K.
In my heart, I want to tell you to let your dad go on Hospice and stick with the comfort meds routine. Does it matter what kind of cancer he has? Unless you're just curious?
Does this ins policy pay for TX or is it a life insurance policy? Either way...$10K is not a life altering amount of money.
Up to you, but I would think long and hard about this. Every single test I had pre-chemotherapy was painful and uncomfortable. And I was a 'healthy' cancer patient. Your dad has 30 years on me when I was dxed and began a month of testing.