Proton Therapy Support Groups For Cancer Patients

May 23, 2023

Proton Therapy Support Groups For Cancer Patients

It can be a relief knowing you’re not alone. There are proton therapy support groups for cancer patients ready to help you.

 

Cancer Diagnoses Are Life Changing

Cancer Support Groups Play a Valuable Role

Simply hearing the words “it’s cancer” from your physician is traumatic. It is well known that cancer is a threat not only to your life and health, but also to your finances, job and family. It is often the greatest challenge a person has ever faced in their life. When the future is uncertain, moving forward can seem impossible. Thankfully, those suffering have a host of resources.

 There are a broad range of cancer patient support groups nationwide.

With the advances made in proton therapy, support groups for current and past patients who have received or are receiving this treatment have become more common and are widely available.

If you or someone you love is undergoing proton therapy, you are likely to have a host of questions and concerns. While many of issues should be addressed by your physician, the information and assistance available from proton therapy support groups can be exceptionally valuable.

Understanding Your Treatment Is Important

What Is Proton Therapy?

Protons have been used to treat cancer in humans since the 1950s. Today, proton therapy is the most precise form of radiation treatment for cancer patients. The history of this science is significant.

Proton therapy is a form of radiation treatment used by oncologists to kill cancer cells. It is particularly effective in tumors located in the brain, skull, breast, prostate, eyes, lungs and spine, just to name a few.  Because it can be more accurately and precisely targeted, it attacks only the cancer cells, not the healthy tissue that is immediately adjacent to the cancer.  This is crucial when the cancer is next to vital organs like the brain, the optic nerve, the heart, the esophagus, and the bladder.

The combination of proton therapy’s effectiveness and safety has resulted in the continued expansion of its use.  Today there are more than 40 proton therapy treatment centers in the U.S. alone, with more under construction.

Insurance Companies Focus on the Bottom Line

It’s Profits Before Policyholders When Denying Proton Therapy

When most people enroll in their health insurance plans, they do so hoping that they will never have a serious illness. That said, they believe that if they do, the insurance company will respond to their claims fairly and in a timely manner.

Sadly, this often is not the case. Even the most reputable of health insurance companies tend to deny, delay, and underpay appropriate health care claims. While this may seem confusing, a general explanation of these organizations and their operations makes things clearer. When faced with such an issue, it is advisable to seek the assistance of an experienced Oklahoma insurance claim lawyer. These legal professionals can help you understand your rights, navigate the complex claims process, and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

You see, insurance companies are businesses with a goal of increasing their profitability; ultimately, they are loyal to their shareholders, not their policyholders.  Payment of medical claims are recognized as expenses and decrease their bottom line.

In order to improve their financial position, these companies often deny many claims, including those for proton therapy.

Unfortunately, proton therapy costs more than photon-based radiation, called IMRT, which is less accurate.  Despite the fact that proton therapy is a superior treatment in many instances, insurance companies balk at covering the increased cost. Thus, they often deny treatments based on nothing more than a desire to be more profitable.  Health insurers put claims-handling systems in place that are intentionally unfavorable to the policyholder, including utilizing unqualified, untrained, overworked and/or biased nurses and doctors to make decisions.  Actions like this are known as bad faith. If you’re facing such practices, consulting with an Insurance bad faith attorney in Oklahoma City can provide the legal support and guidance needed to challenge these unfair tactics bad faith.

How Patients Can Find a Cancer Proton Therapy Support Group

Patients facing cancer are frustrated, frightened, and confused. The advice and counsel from others traveling this same road can be incredibly comforting. Proton support group members not only help each other but also share important, positive news about success stories. This information makes it harder for insurance companies to deny coverage.

There are many organized groups across the country, and they are as diverse as the patients being treated with proton therapy. Consider just some of the cancer support groups available:

• Proton Pals is based at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
• CancerLifeline’s SCCA Proton Therapy Support Group operates in Seattle, Washington.
• Loma Linda University Cancer Center has a support group in Loma Linda, California.
• A Facebook group with more than 2.7 thousand members offers support for proton therapy patients online.
• Proton Beam Therapy Support Group is an online resource supported by the Mayo Clinic.
• A support group of prostate cancer survivors who used proton therapy who publicly support the treatment was started in the United Kingdom in 2016. The country’s first proton therapy center opened just last year.

If you are receiving treatment and would like to join a proton therapy support group, contact the center where you’re being treated to see if one is in your area.

What to Do if Your Insurer Won’t Cover Proton Therapy

Reach Out to a Proton Therapy Insurance Denial Attorney

Life is full of uncontrollable outcomes, and your cancer diagnosis is proof of that. If your insurance company has denied your proton therapy coverage, it may seem as if you have nowhere to turn. In situations like this, it is best to control what you can and engage the services of a seasoned proton therapy insurance denial attorney.

Doug Terry of Doug Terry Law has significant experience in cases like this and has had outstanding results on behalf of his clients. He has a proven track record showing that he can hold insurance companies accountable for their bad faith denials.

Don’t just accept your insurance company’s proton beam therapy denial and give up. Contact Doug today at 405-463-6362 to schedule a free consultation and learn how he can positively impact your position.