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RFA insurance question
I'm wondering whether those of you who have had radiofrequency ablation had trouble with your insurance companies.
Now that I've finally decided to do radiofrequency ablation for the solitary nodule in my lung, my insurance company may not cover it under my particular circumstance.
They cover the procedure for debulking, or for removing as much as possible of a tumor that's considered inoperable because it's not in a good spot, or if the patient can't tolerate surgery.
I don't fall into either of these categories. However, I'm wondering whether there would be a difference because I already had a lung wedge resection in April 2007, and the tumor that's there now, which was discovered this April, is really a recurrence from the resection even though the margins were clean.
I'm going to check into it further, but if any of you ladies or gents can impart any of your wisdom about RFA and insurance issues I'd much appreciate it.
Joan
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Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
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