HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - American Cancer Society advocates for government-run national health-care

hutchibk · 09-27-2007, 01:52 PM

Personally, I don't believe that just because our system is perceived complex and seems comparatively expensive to perceived "free" care in other countries national systems, that a national govt system is the only solution for the US or a good option. I think there is some solution in the middle of the two systems that makes it affordable and accessible, and is consumer driven, not govt run or mandated. I don't want the govt deciding ANYTHING about my healthcare options.

I recommend googling Regina Herzlinger, see who she is and what she knows...

And a good informative opinion from Dr. Val...at Revolution Health...
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blog...ommentary-5390

Also - this looks like an interesting read: The Fight of My Life by Barbara Clark (UK nurse, mother and foster mother)

The Fight of My Life
Barbara Clark
RRP: £7.99
Price: £3.99
You Save: £4.00 (50%)
Release Date: 4 October 2007

Synopsis
Barbara Clark is a former nurse, foster carer and mother of two children, one with special needs, and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in February 2005. During her treatment, she found that there was a drug existing, Herceptin, that would double survival chances for her particular form of cancer from 14 per cent. However, it wasn't available on the NHS and therefore, for Barbara, unaffordable. In the midst of aggressive chemotherapy, Barbara, incredibly, found the strength to fight not just the NHS but the government, and to win the right to be prescribed the drug on the NHS, not just for herself but for thousands of other women. The "Fight of My Life" will tell the story behind those headlines.

Look for more info on Amazon UK...

09-27-2007, 01:52 PM	#4
hutchibk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,519	Personally, I don't believe that just because our system is perceived complex and seems comparatively expensive to perceived "free" care in other countries national systems, that a national govt system is the only solution for the US or a good option. I think there is some solution in the middle of the two systems that makes it affordable and accessible, and is consumer driven, not govt run or mandated. I don't want the govt deciding ANYTHING about my healthcare options. I recommend googling Regina Herzlinger, see who she is and what she knows... And a good informative opinion from Dr. Val...at Revolution Health... http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blog...ommentary-5390 Also - this looks like an interesting read: The Fight of My Life by Barbara Clark (UK nurse, mother and foster mother) The Fight of My Life Barbara Clark RRP: £7.99 Price: £3.99 You Save: £4.00 (50%) Release Date: 4 October 2007 Synopsis Barbara Clark is a former nurse, foster carer and mother of two children, one with special needs, and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in February 2005. During her treatment, she found that there was a drug existing, Herceptin, that would double survival chances for her particular form of cancer from 14 per cent. However, it wasn't available on the NHS and therefore, for Barbara, unaffordable. In the midst of aggressive chemotherapy, Barbara, incredibly, found the strength to fight not just the NHS but the government, and to win the right to be prescribed the drug on the NHS, not just for herself but for thousands of other women. The "Fight of My Life" will tell the story behind those headlines. Look for more info on Amazon UK... __________________ Brenda NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...) Nov'03~ dX stage 2B Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo. Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic! Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2 Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone) Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors. Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen. Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen. June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen. Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice. Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots. Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011. Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah. "I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."