Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge

Cancer Concierge services; Founder CancerGuidanceNow. Scientist; Clinical Psychologist; Concierge expert matching to top cancer specialists, clinical trials

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

It's because hospitals charge a facility fee- a percentage of total charge (usually 50-65% of billing). This allows them to pay staff surgeons more than private practice docs. However, they have a contract and after a certain amount of time, they start reducing per annum salary. A private practice doc cannot charge a facility fee, unless they're part of a "surgery center".

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@RealHickory It was a "voice vote" so there's no written record of it. Nancy Mace was present so she may have an accurate account of the vote. Bring it on Ms. Mace

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@Myeloma_Doc It seems like the take-home here is that anxiety/depression is associated with overall symptom severity. I would bet that's true for many, if not all cancers, not specific to MM.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

It's likely there's a cytogenetic/familial link to the Pope's cancer. The Pope's biological older brother, Louis, has Multiple Myeloma diagnosed in 2017. Louis has now relapsed after years of remission and currently in a clinical trial. There's been big advances in targeted bispecific and tri-specific immunotherapies leading to the current hope of a "functional cure". If so, new targeted immunotherapies offer greater treatment options of destroying mets, in the Pope, if present.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@YannickBuccella The future of oncology.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@TheRealMadOx This outrageous delay is cruel and unusual punishment. Do the eval for heaven's sake!

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

H-1B visa holders who live in the United States also will be counted in the 2030 census- as will international students, others on temporary visas, as well as permanent residents and undocumented immigrants (as noted above). It a gross distortion of the number of Americans in the US with huge voting implications. The census determines the Electoral College

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@Myeloma_Doc Appreciate the brief summary!

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@JackBeanbear @bennyjohnson A Federal Washington, DC judge at that. It's gotta be big for that sign-off.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@YannickBuccella Fair answer. It sounds like advances in cytogenetics may help in determining who will and who will not have polyps that morph into cancer in the not too distant future.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

Indeed- Advantage plans use the "name" Medicare" but it doesn't resemble regular Medicare at all. It really confuses a lot of patients! I think it's by design to get people to sign up. They shouldn't be allowed to use the name. Also, insurance brokers get a "commission" aka kick-back from signing people to Advantage plans.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@HandSurgeonMD @anish_koka Yes, very true. Unattainable if you're Out of Network with their Advantage Plan.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@JeremyGurewitz @anish_koka And, free gift cards, and vision and dental and on and on....

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@Pete2Shawn @anish_koka That's a good way of putting it.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

Thank you for the link. The scientist in me comes out here: This data is over 20 years old 1980-1990 + observation time as followup. The comparison group is from expected incidence-based mortality rate from the general population. Not really a direct comparison. A better control would be those who had a colonoscopy with no polyp removal. Given the large numbers of patients who undergo polypectomy per year I would like to think a more direct comparison has been performed?

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@seanhannity Now how about going after all the doctors with fake medical degrees, and other medical personnel coming into this country on these visas?

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@HenrychihangFu1 A fair statistical assessment. It may be a true statement after a larger N obtained and tracked over a 5 year period.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

@SharylAttkisson @Mister___Q So sorry to hear of your dreadful experience. The grief is hard enough, but to compound the medical bureaucracy on top of it is just too much anyone person should have to bear. My heartfelt condolences.

[Katharine Presty, PhD | Cancer Concierge @prestons2019]

In this situation I suggest physically walking into that office with the patient (they probably won't give it directly to you) and insisting on leaving with a hard copy of the medical record, including pathology report. This level of delay with a cancer diagnosis is inexcusable. This is why I founded CancerGuidanceNow, a cancer concierge service to help people like you and your husband wade through the bureaucracy of health care after a cancer diagnosis. The comment just "call Mayo" suggests an aggressive or rare form of cancer. You are correct it won't go anywhere without medical records with the pathology report. Your husband needs to see the expert who specializes in this type of cancer- Maybe Mayo- or other places with experts closer to home. Hard to say, but what is clear is that he needs to see an oncologist who sees this type of cancer everyday. DM me your email and I'll send you a pdf copy on "How to Find the Right Cancer Care Expert" A Practical Guide to Specialists, Treatment Centers, and Smarter Cancer Decisions.