Quote of the Day

One kind word can warm three winter months
~Japanese proverb~

Medical costs!

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I tried to do an internet search regarding costs of surgeries and chemotherapies to get an idea of what things cost. There is very little on the internet regarding costs. I did find some information on other blogs and also on the Komen website. It is interesting that most doctors have NO idea what things cost. My oncologist didn't even know how much he charges for an office visit. LOL I am posting this information in case someone is searching for information regarding costs for some of these tests and procedures.

Mamogram and ultrasound-bilateral breasts $225.oo
Ultrasound guided-biopsy and stereotactic biopsy-bilateral breasts $8, 800.00 not inlcuding radiologist charge
Pathology report from biopsies $1,200.00
Nuclear medicine sentinel node mapping $1,200.00 not including radiologist charge
Surgery-Bilateral mastectomy $57,000.00
Anesthesia $3,500.00 and $2,000.000 not sure why two separate charges
Plastic surgeon bill $$20,000.00
Room and board 4 days $1,780.00
Lab expenses-one day-in hospital $3,000.00 (not even sure what this was?)
Misc. surgery expense $7,800.00
Chemotherapy treatment Cytoxan/Taxotere $5,500.00 per treatment
Neupogen shots- 7 injections $1,600.00 (these are given after chemo to stimulate bone marrow generation to keep white blood cell count up)
Neulesta shot- 1 injection $3,000.000 (also used after chemo to stimulate bone marrow)
Oncology office visit $220.00
Outpatient surgery-debridement of breast tissue. One hour surgery. $13,000.00

A lot of the expenses are not itemized, and it is hard to determine exactly what the charges were for. The above is what I could figure out, and these charges are what the insurance company allowed. The original costs were higher, obviously. I have not even seen any of the charges come through for my last hospital visit for 6 days. I can only image what those will be!

This will make you smile!!!!

www.ustream.tv/channel/shibu-inu-puppy-cam

You have to check this out. Cute, Cute, Cute!!!!!!

Backyard Wildlife

Here is Wisconsin and especially the area we live, we typically see lots of different wildlife. We have seen coyotes (and hear them howling at night) fox, mink, turkeys and of course deer. The dog went crazy yesterday afternoon barking at the window, so I knew it had to be deer. This little fellow was just taking a leisurely walk through my yard. It was the second time I had seen him that day. It is kind of funny as there have been numerous times we see people parked on the side of the road taking pictures of the deer walking in our area and to us it is just like seeing a bird or squirrel. We have become so used to seeing them. It is mating season right now, so deer sightings are frequent. We even had a light dusting of SNOW yesterday. Ughhhhhh!!!!!

Mondays/Work

I have always hated Mondays! I think I always will. Getting back into the work routine. Ugghh. Not that I have been overloaded with work responsibilites, as I have hardly been here the last 2 months. As John puts it it is a Monday morning hangover without the booze. LOL

I am back at the office this morning. I am trying to get back into my "other" job of medical transcription. I did some work over the weekend and should be getting back this week more regularly. I miss the work. There is something about typing up a complete medical report with no errors from a fast-taking radiologist with a southern accent that makes me feel as if I have accomplished something great. About a year ago when I first started with this company out of Texas, I was ready to throw in the towel two weeks into training, singing the blues to my boss that there was NO WAY I would ever figure out what these two doctors were saying. Let me tell you, they speak fast and slurry! It was so frustrating. I stuck with it and I have to laugh now because they sound so normal to me. My main account is radiology (mostly MRIs,CTs, ultrasounds and some general radiography) and my other account is from the Chattanooga Heart Institute-Cardiology. I love the cardiology account as well but do not work on it often, so it is a bit of a challenge for me, which I like.

Time to get going. The coffee cup is empty, and I am ready to go!
Happy Monday!

Lunch Date

Today I met my dear friend Cathy for lunch. We haven't seen each other since she came to see me in the hospital, and well, quite frankly, the hospital is not the place to catch up with a friend. LOL I was craving a big salad, so we headed to Cheesecake Factory. It felt great to be out and about, and I actually did not feel self conscious at all with the new wig on. It was a great afternoon spent with a great friend catching up on each others lives. I am so lucky to have such a good friend as Cathy. Thanks for lunch Cathy and for the Mounds bars! (Mmmmm one of my favorites).