President Bush, please read this post.

[Sub Atomic]

My best friend has cancer.

He found out last Wednesday that it's stage IV malignant metastatic melanoma.

He has a football-sized tumor in his abdomen which causes him extreme pain. It's also interfering with his bodily functions. He also has two more tumors in his chest.

He's shown symptoms of this for the past year and a half. He didn't have insurance through work. He couldn't afford to cover himself. His condition had gotten so bad that he finally went to the doctor because he couldn't stand the pain anymore. Or being tired. Or not being able to eat.

After antibiotics, blood tests, lower GI series, more blood tests and finally (finally!) an MRI, they found the tumors. They initially diagnosed it as lymphoma, and performed a biopsy. The results came back last Wednesday as melanoma. He finally met with an oncologist last Friday, who told him that the tumor in his abdomen was too large to operate on, as he would not physically recover before the tumors in his chest got out of control.

He was supposed to go to his first radiation treatment tomorrow to reduce the size of the tumor in his abdomen.

But since he doesn't have insurance and Medical or Medicare haven't processes him through the system yet, his only chance of getting the radiation tomorrow is if he comes up with $17,000.

Ain't America grand? Doesn't that just make you want to wave the flag?

This is the America you've created, Mr. Bush. The America where ordinary citizens with a full life ahead of them are going to die because of your myopic vision.

I'm just an ordinary American who doesn't have thousands and thousands of dollars to donate to you and your causes. I'm just an ordinary Joe who's doing OK.

So this post will probably make you laugh.

Go ahead and mock me, Mr. Bush.

"Oh, please don't let dweeb's friend die! Please!!"

Show us all your Compassionate Christian Conservative side.

[Radio_Lady]

1. dweeb, this is so serious. Where is he located? He is terminal...

What about hospice care until the inevitable happens? Who would pay for that? What about his work? What kind of work does he do? What about family members? Are there any other possibilities? He needs palliative treatment, not radiation, IMHO. Keep him comfortable -- radiation is probably not the best option.

[Sub Atomic]

2. I have no say in his care

his mother is here and his partner is also helping to take care of him.

Trying to fucking wade through this bullshit is fucking ridiculous.

Why does someone get turned away for fucking medical care?

[Radio_Lady]

3. Medicine is a business. They deal with this stuff all the time.

Maybe if he were indigent, there would be a different answer. Perhaps someone with more knowledge than I have will chime in here.

I hope so. I'll say a prayer for your friend tonight.

[Sub Atomic]

4. Thank you.

[onecent]

5. I'm SO sorry for your friend. My sister-in-law died of Melanoma and

it is not a friendly death. My thoughts are with you and him. This President has done so much damage to EVERY person alive that I can barely stand it!

I pray American's AND the media will wake up before it's too late, but I fear it may be too late.

Bless you.

[graywarrior]

6. Pisses me off so much that this is happening.

Wish I had millions so I could help. Meanwhile, the fuel business is fucking booming with obscene profits.

[ellenfl]

7. bush would just say it's his own fault. he should have

saved his money for just this purpose instead of, well, spending it on eating and such. i'm very sorry about your friend. 'there but for the grace of . . .'

ellen fl

[niyad]

8. dweeb, I know this is a nightmare for you and your friend, and there

isn't much any of us can do, except think gentle thoughts for all of you. Please know that we are here, when you need to vent, rant, or just be.

blessings and peace.

[KitchenWitch]

9. My thoughts are with you and your friend

The healthcare system in this country is reprehensible. I wish there was something I could do for all of the people in this country who find themselves in your friend's situation.

Pure evil it is.

:cry:

[Quiet_Dem_Mom]

10. I swear, I thought of your post in my sleep last night.

My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2004 and he passed away October 2005. Although he had adequate insurance, he waited until he was experiencing pain in his side (cancer had spread to his liver, ribcage, pelvic bones, etc) before going to a doctor. By that time, it was too late, the disease had progressed too far. But, with chemotherapy, he outlived the original 6 months he was given at the initial diagnosis.

In dealing with Dad's cancer, we came across our community's cancer resource center. The center, at least in our town, is a service provided by the local hospital run by a staff of cancer survivors. Our center gas all sorts of info on what cancer-related services, including hospice care, are available in the community. For Dad, they even suggested having him come in to talk to one of the center's veterans (Dad was retired Navy), to talk to him about what to expect with chemo...or just to talk. If you have a service like this in your area, maybe you can compile some info that may help your friend. Maybe they can point you in a good direction.

I wish your friend well in his fight. And I wish you strength in the support of your friend.

QDM

[Sub Atomic]

11. Ted was check into the emergency room this morning, president Bush.

He qualified for emergency MediCal.

But it's probably too late. They don't think he'll survive the night.

Thank you President Bush for taking my best friend.

I hope you sleep well tonight. I won't be doing so for quite awhile.