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Kaiser Permanente Complaint - Kaiser Sucks - Kaiser Cancer Treatment
Kaiser Cancer Treatment - Complaint
DENVER, COLORADO -- I was diagnosed in April of 09 with Stage III breast cancer. Little did I know, but Kaiser Oncology FAILED to tell me that the type of breast cancer that I suffer from is called a Triple Negative and is rare and aggressive. The one thing that they did right was to treat me with chemotherapy first (which shrunk my tumor), but they NEVER told me any details about my cancer. When I asked if it was estrogen positive, all I got was a "no" and sent off to chemo treatment. The oncologist always rushed us and never gave my husband or me any clear answers. When I finished my chemo treatments in November of 09 I asked what my prognosis would be. All I got from the oncologist was, "I don't know. We won't know until we do surgery." No support whatsoever! I made an appointment in early Nov with the surgeon to discuss my mastectomy and she "informed" me of what "they" were going to do for my reconstruction. No options...Just one procedure. When I started doing research, I didn't like the butcher job that they were proposing, so I asked questions. The surgeon told me that I could not have breast implants as I was to have radiation and they couldn't do tissue expanders due to radiated skin. I kept asking questions, which started to tick her off. I asked for a consult with the plastic surgeon and he told me that tissue expanders would not work with radiated skin (he had spoken with the surgeon prior to my visit). When I asked about the TRAM flap procedure (a tummy tuck and use of abdominal muscles for breast reconstruction), I said that I would look like a patchwork quilt and he said "yes" without any hesitation! He treated me like crap. My husband asked if there was anyone in Colorado that did do breast implants and he thought that there was "some guy up North". My current plastic surgeon (NOT related to Kaiser) is a half a block to the south and has been doing breast implants on radiated skin for years! The Kaiser plastic surgeon then asked me if we had any other questions, told us that he was late for his next appt (which he was late for mine and didn't give me the full hour I was promised) and then told us (very sarcastically) "Good luck". I went to work the next day, made appointments with a new plastic surgeon, a new oncologist and had a referral to a new general surgeon. I then switched my insurance to United Health Care (thank God for open enrollment). I then finished my chemo on the 23rd of Nov. I visited the radiologist oncologist (through Kaiser) and he said the same thing...Can't do breast implants with radiated skin and then proceeded to give me information for support groups and counseling (which I NEVER got since I was first diagnosed...Too little too late). I went home and cancelled my surgery for December. The general surgeon was such a chicken that she didn't want to call and find out for herself why I had cancelled; she waited for her nurse to get back from vacation (over a week later) to call and grill me. Then she had the oncologist call and grill me some more. I told them that I had switched insurances and that I would not be having surgery until after the first of the year. I am very happy to report that I had a double mastectomy on Feb 10th and I have been given such EXCELLENT treatment by United Health Care. They have called me and referred me for counseling and checked on me frequently. Kaiser is the worst possible place to be treated for cancer (in Denver, at least). I have had two other women come to me to discuss their breast cancer treatment with Kaiser and neither one has been good. Enough is enough!
Comments:
Posted by Skye on 2010-06-04:
I'm sorry you had to go through this cancer, and that Kaiser wasn't there for you. They were so good to my sister, who at 30, last year, had a double masectomy and reconstructive surgery. It was a horrible time for her and our entire family, and I hope you will also have better days ahead.
Posted by clutzycook on 2010-06-04:
I'm sorry this happened to you but I'm glad that you were finally able to get adequate care. Unfortunately, there are some physicians who apparently were home sick the day that bedside manner was taught in their med school.
Posted by Xylie on 2010-11-13:
Good for you.We don't have to take what they dish out to us.My sister had cancer 6 yrs ago and I matched and we did a stem cell for the non hodgekins {SP} lymphoma. {Denver,Colorado} They got way more than they needed,but she does have a ample supply should she need another one down the rd in case I get killed or something.Anyway,she has been cancer free ever since.But of course has all the crappy things that do go with it.But they asked questions too,and I am so glad you pushed the issue.It's your body,and I don't blame you.It's bad enough to have that god awful cancer,then to have attitude from your caretakers is unacceptable.And to rush you through like cattle,tells me they were only interested in the $$ and not the well-being of their patients concerns.Good for you for helping others to speak up and say no,that's isn't what I want!God Bless and keep you!
Posted by sam35 on 2011-02-17:
When you have Cancer or sick with anything you don't need any more stress ! Iam sure it just make everything worse . I hate Kaiser , If it was free I
still would not go their . But I have had skin Cancer twice . Once with blue cross , Wear they wanted $2.000 before they would even look at Me .
They worked on me for one hour and the total bill
was almost $5.000 ! I needed a skin graff but they did do a nice job in a timely manor . The other time I just payed a Doctor cash .Wear He spend-ed 4-5 hours on Me, did all lab test,and did
a very nice job for about $500. ! Iam a Veteran
so if it ever get real bad I will go their and Iam sure they will help me for cheap ! The V.A is
far better than Kaiser or blue cross for cheap .
And maybe for free depending on how you rate in their system !
still would not go their . But I have had skin Cancer twice . Once with blue cross , Wear they wanted $2.000 before they would even look at Me .
They worked on me for one hour and the total bill
was almost $5.000 ! I needed a skin graff but they did do a nice job in a timely manor . The other time I just payed a Doctor cash .Wear He spend-ed 4-5 hours on Me, did all lab test,and did
a very nice job for about $500. ! Iam a Veteran
so if it ever get real bad I will go their and Iam sure they will help me for cheap ! The V.A is
far better than Kaiser or blue cross for cheap .
And maybe for free depending on how you rate in their system !
Posted by mikem on 2012-03-22:
i was on chemo and they didn't monitor me or anything almost died cause had bad effectso f chemo, bp at 200/135 they did nothing, no telling how long it was that high. water in my stomache they ddin't want to check it out. neuropathy now cause of chemo and alot of other sides 2 yrs later. worst insurance i ever had and the worst dr's, if you go in for a cold its ok, but something complicated i feel bad for ppl who have to go to these dr's, they just don't care. they black listed me when i made a complaint so would have to pay my copay and the doc would come in go straight to the computer and never say a word give me a paper and leave. i thought he was coming back and he never did. canceled my insurance quicly after that.
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