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Posted 10/25/2018 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
For the last 4 years after being diagnosed t3a m 1 n 1 prostate cancer. Gleason score for 3 - 4 PSA .21 . Lupron 2 years Vacation 2 years. Had 45 days of external radiation. Urologist and radiation oncologist every 6 months. Now my choice is do I wait for the cancer to come upon me using Medicare and my supplemental or do I seek out help from the VA in Denver since I'm Priority One looking at clinical trials or immune therapy.I would appreciate any thoughts for the matter.
Posted 10/25/2018 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
That's a personal choice that's difficult to comment on. The VA don't always give the best care, but can be cheaper is some cases. Some VA hospitals are good.

My father had a service connected disability so got free treatment for most things, but he also had Medicare. Our local VA was a 45 minute drive, so ER visits were always to the closest hospital and we'd take him up to the VA for followup treatments since we could get his meds and blood tests free there (no co-pays).

If going through the VA gets you hooked up with clinical trials, so much the better, but your local (medicare) docs should also be able to hook up with trials. You might find it easier to do routine monitoring through you local docs. I also wouldn't over think it.
Posted 10/25/2018 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
If you have a rating of Service connected disability that is 50% or greater you are also eligible for the "Choice" program which allows you to see ANY Dr that accepts choice, many many do as choice pays the same as medicare/medicaid.
I am 100% service connected and have used choice for all of my TX with never a hassle. The main thing with the VA and/or choice is to stay proactive. You CAN NOT allow someone else to say " I'll take care of it and get back to you". You must be in the game every minute. I have never had a problem getting TX, an appointment (in a timely manner) or even just someone to listen to me. True a few times I had to slightly raise my voice but I always got the care.

Be well and choose wisely.

Roger
Posted 10/25/2018 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
My husband has a 100% VA disability and visits our local VA a couple times a year to stay active in the system and get drugs through the VA. The VA gave him his first round of Lupron shots. However, his medical care is private. He uses Medicare and Medicare gap insurance when he sees his specialists: a local urologist, radiation oncologist, and medical oncologist. His radiation was done at our local hospital, a satelite of Mass General in Boston, which is supervising his care now that he is recurrent. Our local VA only had a part-time urologist and no cancer specialists. The VA and the private medical oncoligst have worked out the paperwork for getting Zytiga shortly, which the private oncologist will be prescribing next month. If all this sounds confusing and a lot of work, it is. However, the drugs are "free" via the VA.
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