Drew Wohl

 Finally received the letter from the insurance company as to why my claim was denied.  I am not sure if their opinion changed after a peer-to-peer review.  But I think it may not.  Regardless of that outcome, the fact that this is happening is just ..ummm… messed up.   I am fortunate that I am being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering, which is one of the leading cancer hospitals in the U.S. My radiation oncologist has been treating me for 6 years.  He does not administer proton therapy. He said it is the best thing for me due to the location of the tumors and the potential damage which would be caused by other forms of radiation treatment. Here is an excerpt from https://www.gmlawyers.com/proton-beam-therapy-insurance-denial/  "Proton beam therapy has become increasingly popular as a form of cancer treatment, but because it costs more than standard radiation, insurance companies routinely refuse to cover it. Often, insurance companies have policies i...

  Insurance company called an hour before they closed for the weekend.     They left message that I got it 2 minutes before they closed.     They are denying my treatment.     They did not specify what treatment, but since the only one that I am waiting on is for proton therapy, I am assuming it is for that.    Most of my cancer is stable, but a few tumors in my lungs are close to major structures.    They are located too close to the esophagus and heart to use radiation - there is a good chance it would damage both. The tumors are growing rather quickly.    Guess the doctor who sits behind the desk there, denying claims, is putting their medical degree to good use.    Instead of doing things like being a real doctor.   For ten years I have been doing everything I can to stay alive.     In the past the insurance games have not impacted me to this extent - the delays were not quite as crit...

  It has been awhile, yet again, since I updated things.  Unfortunately there is not much to add on walking side of things.  I am able to walk, but it is unclear if I will progress further.   A new brace, which I started wearing about a month ago, is supposed to help trigger the muscles that have atrophied and engage them more.  I am able to walk with it for short distances at a time, and I do feel some pain/stress/activation in my hips and other areas that have been weakened.  But I do not feel that much more sure footed. I do manage to go 1-1/2 miles a day, with many days going between 2.5 to 4 miles when I am taking photographs.  I am tired and walking slower by the end of those days, but I am moving.  I really wish I could be training more and working on my cardio.  I keep on telling myself I will get on the treadmill and hold the rails tightly.  I cannot use a bike trainer - there is no way I can raise my leg to get over the se...