Dumaguete Info Search


Prostate Cancer

Discussion in 'Expat Section' started by Lorraine, Oct 7, 2016.

  1. LENNY

    LENNY DI Forum Adept Showcase Reviewer

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    What is the name and phone number of the Insurance Company that gave you the half million dollar policy ???...and how much is it costing you monthly ???
     
  2. Dave & Imp

    Dave & Imp DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    I purchased two polices for S250,000 USD each. One was for ten years and one was for 20 years of life. If die after the policy ends I get no insurance money. With my kids advice I dropped the shorter term policy. The long term policy for 20 years, is with Ohio National Life Insurance Company, located at One Financial Way, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242. My cost per month is $ 285.91 for the long term policy. The shorter term policy was the cheaper of the two ($190 USD range). The policy was purchased while I was in the US when I was 63 years old. The policy is in force even if I live outside the US. I hope this information helps. If I marry here, and I die before the policy ends, there will be some monies available for the wife and any other dependents. The company phone number is +1 513-794-6100. I would suggest you look the company up on the internet. I am not an insurance salesman, or I would be knocking on your front door by now...:o o: lol.
     
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  3. johncarson

    johncarson DI Member Veteran Army

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    Dave, I appreciate and understand your concern about care you are receiving in Dumaguete. My urologist there was caring and concerned with my condition and didn’t urge surgery on me. I just think he didn’t have the tools at his disposal necessary for an accurate diagnosis. A good friend in Santa Barbara discovered he had prostate cancer several years ago. Interestingly enough, his PSA never rose to 4 – it was somewhat less, but it had gone up a notch in the previous year. He watched the tumor for a while, and the doctor determined that it was aggressive and that he needed treatment. He opted for seed radiation as opposed to surgery. It was not without discomfort, but at this time he is leading a normal, healthy life, and running a PSA of near zero. Had I caught my cancer in time, I definitely would have opted for either radiation or surgery. As you well know, metastasized cancer is far worse than any of the treatments. There is certainly no easy solution to this problem so many of us face. I wish you the best.
     
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  4. Dave & Imp

    Dave & Imp DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Thanks John, I understand the situation with metastasized cancer, which is different from my case. I agree they do not have the technical support here in Dumaguete they need on medical issues and diagnosis. I had research and consulted with three specialist in Southern California: Robotic surgery, General radiation and seed radiation before consulting with a doctor group in Los Angeles. Luckily my cancer was the lowest grade and slowest growing. My original urologist, second statement after telling me I had prostate cancer was not to react too fast, as prostate cancer had been over treated for a long time with in the medical profession. Of coarse every case is different, and each case should be thoroughly researched with all the possible medical information possible. Because of my family history I never felt there was a question of me getting prostate cancer, the only question was when it would be discovered, and what type and location.
    Did you ever do a bone scan while you were here?
    I really do not think the PSA test are reliable. My brother was getting reading of 1600 while he was still up and around. The importance of PSA test rely more on variation of readings over time than the actually reading just as you alluded to with your friends uptick in results. Prostate enlargement and even prostate cancer is pretty common with older men in the US culture.

    Do you have any suggestions for the members here that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer or high PSAs from you experience? Over what time period do you feel you became suspicious of your situation?

    It seems like neither of us have had reassuring experiences here. I do feel the bone scan in Cebu was worth the time and money, but I even question those results now. I have the original scan copies... my doctor gave them to me.
    @johncarson
     
  5. KTM

    KTM DI Senior Member

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    After a PSA test in Thailand,(4.6) I went through a battery of tests, including a 10 needle biopsy(5 in each lobe), followed by Nuclear X-rays, Radioactive Isotope MRI's etc etc This was after the biopsies showed aggressive cancer 9/10 on the Gleason Scale, (4/5 on left, 5/5 on the right). Including the prostectomy, 12 days in a top hospital in Bangkok(Samitivej), due to complications, the cost for my insurance was a little under THB 900,000(USD 26,500 approx in those days).

    The HRT therapy for 2 years after the operation(16mm ball, injected into one's stomach area every 3 months), also covered by my insurance, was about PHP 224,000, done in Dumaguete. I get an annual PSA test at Silliman for the same cost as stated in a previous post. My Insurance per year is up to USD 500,000/year, through my ex company, costs around USD5,000 annually, but covers myself, my wife and children in full time education.

    From a personal point of view, I would not go to any hospital in this country if needing internal medicine treatment, despite many of my friends being local doctors, surgeons etc. This is reflected by my company's refusal to pay even for St Luke's in Manila, as it is not recognized as a 'competent' hospital medically or financially.

    As a post note, I have had 3 friends, who have been sent to St Luke's, none of whom came out alive, but that's just a personal experience. However, having said that, local hospitals do a reasonable job with road accident trauma, as I have also found out personally on a few occasions.
     
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  6. johncarson

    johncarson DI Member Veteran Army

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    Dave, the first bone scan I had was here in California. Prior to that in Dumaguete, I had been checking my PSA every 6 months or so. When it rose from a steady 9+ or- to around 18 my urologist recommended Dutasteride. It dropped the PSA back down to around 9 for a couple of years. The first signs I had of anything remiss was last March when I began to feel some pain on my right side, and started having to get up every several hours during the night to urinate. That's when I had another PSA test done (it had been about 8 months since the last). It was 45 then, and as I have said, in a month's time it doubled to 90. My ultrasound at Silliman during this time was inconclusive. That's when I returned to the US for further testing. I don't have any suggestions for the members there - I can only relate my personal experience. In retrospect, I should have come back to the US when the PSA first jumped to 45. I think that by the time I started to have symptoms, the cancer had already metastasized.
     
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  7. WillieCottrell

    WillieCottrell DI New Member

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    I have seen my father experiencing the pain while fighting with the prostate cancer. My father was diagnosed at the stage 2 prostate cancer, a few years back. The oncologist at the Best Radiation therapy New York suggested for prostate cancer treatment options Long Island for his recovery. He was recommended for radiation therapy Bronx along with the brachytherapy, combined. Now, he has totally recovered from the disease and is having very good health, as well living a happy life.
    [​IMG]
     
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