Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:50 pm
"The organization has "been very concerned about the rising cost of cancer care," ASCO's president, Dr. Richard Schilsky, told reporters.

Concern is so high that ASCO is now pressing members "to address this issue with patients," he added.

Consider one of the meeting's first presentations, involving the chemotherapy agent pemetrexed (brand name Alimta).

Researchers reported that maintenance treatment with pemetrexed (Alimta) added about three months to overall survival in patients with advanced, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease had not progressed on platinum-based therapy."

Read more at site..

Monday June 1, 2009, 5:59 pm
A friend who had a cancerous brian tumor recently died when the insurance company decided they wouldn't pay for the MORE EXPENSIVE and STRONGER RADIATION treatment at another hospital ...s o they refused to transfer her, sent her to a nursing home for "compassionate care" and then to HOSPICE.

While she was in HOSPICE, Medicare changed the rules ... ONLY IF A PATIENT IS NOT EATING can a patient be sent to Hospice ...

So they wanted to send our dear friend home (she lives alone in a big house, no relatives) with a visitng nurse for 1 or 2 hours per day.

Because MEDICARE's new ruyles say you can't go back to a nursing home from HOSPICE ... until 60 days have elapsed.

Our friend died 3 days later.

Monday June 1, 2009, 6:21 pm
Wait until the government completely takes over health care. Then most cancers will be too eapensive to treat. If you think the insurance companies are bad, what do you think these patients will get from a government decision-maker who is dealing with massive deficits and mandated cost cutting measures. Are you happy with Medicare rules? If so you will be really happy with Medicare on steroids - government-run health care.