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Posted 1/14/2008 6:31 PM (GMT -7)
Sorry if this has been talked about but I'm new to the board.  Can anyone give an idea of the cost of treatments.

1.  da Vinci procedures

2.  ProstRcision or seed implant + IMRT

3.  Seed implant only.

My wife and I are in the mission field in Central America with only Veterans Admin. insurance.

4.  Does anyone have experience with what and how the VA pays when you have a treatment they do not provide??

God speed to all

Posted 1/14/2008 7:35 PM (GMT -7)
   Hi ~ Guat & Loved Ones ,   W elcome     to…    ~ HealingWell ~   and   A    “ Special ”    Warm Welcome   to   You !   Knowledge gives us POWER….   POWER takes away the fear.   ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~     Click   on   link   below for important information that will help you ~ help us!!   Welcome New Members ~ to HealingWell       The information (link) listed above is to help you get around the forum!       This is a journey best traveled with friends.            Welcome ~ New Friend from all the members here... on HealingWell.com   v       IdahoSurvivor ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/1313099593_9f819e3ff8.jpg   v       bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/mamabluebirdWelcome.jpg
Posted 1/14/2008 7:37 PM (GMT -7)
Hey ~ Guat, Glad you found us... You'll be getting responses soon! I hope you'll continue to reach out to all of us ~ as you move toward your selected treatment. Take care and we will keep you close in thoughts and prayers. In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy mama bluebird - Lee & Buddy… from North Carolina   v           We invite you to visit our personal thread :   Click Here:   “Our Journey” ~ Sharing is Caring   April 3, 2006  53 on surgery day RRP / Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy PSA 4.6   Gleason  3+3=6    T2a   Confined to Prostate 3rd PSA 08-07-2007 Less than 0.1 Non-Detectable :)
Posted 1/14/2008 8:19 PM (GMT -7)
I think a Da Vinci costs around $27-30K.

Posted 1/14/2008 9:03 PM (GMT -7)
My daVinci counting all the prep was 37k.
My Hormone therapy is about 32k per year.
My IMRT sessions were about 46k.

Having zeros in my next test in two weeks: Priceless

I also had insurance through COBRA much of the way. I still paid well over 40k out of pocket this year counting travel, seconds at top facilities, the COBRA costs, prescriptions (including the expensive ED drugs that the carriers don't cover all of). I have heard that some places will have special programs for the uninsured to reduce the rates and payment programs.

Tony
Age 45 (44 when Dx)

Pre-op PSA was 19.8

Surgery on Feb 16, 2007

Post-Op Pathology was poor: Gleason 4+3=7, 4 positive margins, Stage pT3b (Stage III)

HT began in May, '07 with Lupron and Casodex 50mg

IMRT radiation for 38 Treatments ending August 3, '07

My PSA did drop out after surgery to undetectable.  It has not returned and I will continue HT until January '08.

My Life is supported very well by family and friends like you all.

Visit my journey at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tonycrispino

STAY POSITIVE!

Posted 1/14/2008 11:10 PM (GMT -7)
My surgery--open RRP--was $27K for everything--hospital, surgeon, meds and instant oatmeal every morning.
Age 59 PSA 2.6 (PSA velocity--quadrupled in 1yr) 1 of 12 biopsy cores positive

Bilateral nerve-sparing open RRP 6/21/06  Gleason 5

Cancer confined to prostate, post-op PSA's non-detectable

Posted 1/15/2008 4:53 AM (GMT -7)
My hopspital cost in New Jersey for Da vinci was around $38,000, on top of that was the surgeon's bill for $6000.
Age - 57

PSA - July7, 2007 - 4.87

Confirming biopsy - August 30, 2007

Gleason scores of 6 (3+3) and 7 (3+4)

DaVinci surgery December 3, 2007 - Robert Wood Johnston Hospital, New Jersey

 

Cathether removed December 10, 2007

No incontinence after Day 2, December 5, 2007

Fully functioning sexual activity Day 2, December 5, 2007

 

Post-op pathology report confirmed Gleason of 7 (3+4), 30% involved by tumor, no positive margins.

 

Follow-up blood work scheduled for March, 2008

 

Posted 1/15/2008 5:40 AM (GMT -7)
Please don't rule out open surgery. While not cheap it is still the least expensive and is almost surely completely covered by VA insurance. Having just had the Da Vinvci, I would certainly argue with some of the marketing that touts remarkably less pain. I have talked to several guys in my support group and was surprised to find that the pain and recovery time between the two procedures did not differ remarkably among the guys there. I had to laugh. This is exactly what my first surgeon said who wanted to do open surgery on me!

Oh, and my bill at Mt. Sinai will be over 40K.


What mission are you with? this would be a great project for churches to get behind and cover for you.
Paul

47 at Diagnosis.

1/06 PSA 3.15

1/07 PSA 4.6

10/07 PSA 5.06

Biopsy 3/07 just suspicious

Biopsy 11/07  1 of 12 with 20% involvment

Gleason (3+3)6

T1c

Father died of Pca 4/07 at 86.

www.roboticoncology.com

Da Vinci surgery Jan 5, '08 at Mt. Sinai Hosp. NYC

No visible cancer. Saved both nerve bundles.

Post Edited (Paul1959) : 1/15/2008 8:13:02 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/15/2008 7:31 AM (GMT -7)
I had Conventional open Surgery, at the local hospital.  Costs for the surgery included room, drugs, antestialogist (sp), post surgery pathology report, surgeon and assistant surgeon, 2 days but one night hospital stay: Total:  $34,193

James C. 

Help support the forums so they can support you:  https://www.healingwell.com/donate 

 

Age 60 

4/19/07   PSA 7.6, referred to Urologist, recheck 6.7 06/05/07

7/11/07   Biopsy- 16 core samples, size of gland around 76 cc. Staging pT2c

7/17/07   Path report:  3 of 16 PCa, 5% involved, left lobe , GS 3/3:6. 

9/24/07   Retropubic Radical Prostatectomy performed 

9/26/07   Post-op Path Report: GS 3+3=6 Staging pT2c, 110gms, margins clear

10/15/07  ED- 25mg Viagra nightly

10/19/07  Dry 24 hrs, pad at night just in case

11/15/07  ED-continue 25mg Viagra, no response, begin Vacurect pump-

11/15/07  1st PSA-0.01, fully continent- no pads

12/17/07  ED- 3 mts.-continue Viagra and pump-no change-no response

01/01/08  First use of Caverject 2.5mcg, successful, erections at last

01/14/08  Caverject abandoned due to pain and aching, Bimix ordered

Posted 1/15/2008 1:33 PM (GMT -7)
My Di Venci for 32 hours inpatient,four hours in operating room and three in recovery, all all cost except the Doc was $38,000, Anthem Blue Cross paid them about 1/2 the asking price, and I paid my $300 co-payment! The Doc for four hours work and all visit got $4,000.

Beachbum

 

PSA 10 June 2007

Biopsy July 2, 16 of 16 samples positive

T2C

3+3=6

Di Venci 10/09/07, four hours on table, 3 in recovery

Total time in Hospital: 29 hours

Record for Dr. Lance, 65% of prostate had cancer, but NO spread, clean margins

Clean nodes,

First PSA at 5 weeks, UNDETECTABLE!

Catheter out at seven days, dry from hour one!

The Lord has truly Blessed me.

Posted 1/23/2008 9:27 PM (GMT -7)
I'm really one of the lucky ones if there is such. I had the DaVinci in August a little over 5 months ago.. Not sure what the cost was ( I believe over $40,000 ) however most was covered by Medicare and then my union insurance picked up part of it and the rest was covered by my GE supplement. It was one of those times when I had extra coverage since I had worked over 500 hours and my union Insurance kicked in for June, July and August. Like I said For once something lucky came my way. Not really we all know that God controls. Uncle Dan
Age 67
DRE negative, 10 - 06 PSA 5.44, 01 - 07 PSA 6.47
5 - 07 CT and Bone scans negative, 05 - 07 Biopsies, 2 of 6 positive
Gleason Score (3+4) 7 Stage T1c
08 - 14 Da Vinci RAP, five hours surgery
Some right nerve and all left nerve removed,
8 -16 Negative margins, Encapsulated, 50% left side
Lymph nodes 2 R & 1 L - Negative, R & L seminal vesicles - Negative
Gleason changed (4+3) 7 closer to 8 than 6
9 - 26 1st PSA 0.00 11 - 28 2nd PSA 0.00 Some stress drips

Posted 1/25/2008 10:14 AM (GMT -7)

Guat...

How are you?  Are you able to proceed with surgery?  Can you have it on the mission field?  Have you found help?  I am sure others are concerned about you as I am.

Gene

Age: 63

07/05 - Biopsy: Suspicious looking cells. 

12/27/06 - Biopsy

1/24/07 - Dignosed cancer: Gleasn Grade: 3+3=6

02-14-07 Radical Open Nerve-sparing surgery

Pathology Stage of cancer: T2c

4-18-07: First Post-Op psa = 0.011

05/31/07: Cystoscope reveals "Stricture"

06/12/07: Procedure to remove stone & dilate uretha at stricture: Successful procedure.

8/16/07: Start bleeding again in urine.  Get to see a new urologist same day.

8/20/07: Go back to dr. for cystoscope.  "No sign of stricture"!  Wonderful news! Still leaking.

8/31/07: Back to new urologist for regular check up & received 2nd post-op Psa.  It was 0.05

8/31/07:  First Bio Feedback session.

9/19/07: Finished 4 Bio Feedback sessions.  No imporovement with leaking. 

9/26/07 - Started injections 

10/27-07 - Began using clamp at uro's encouragement.

1/6/08 - Still incontinent & impotent... and still "down."   

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