Posts by George Sullivan31

Hey there—just looking for some insight for Angela Wright. A buddy of mine was diagnosed with a brain tumor (Grade IV Glioblastoma) about two years ago. He went through surgery and finished a round of chemo, and honestly, things were looking relatively okay until about two months ago when everything started sliding downhill. He just had a second surgery, but he’s not doing great. His last CT scan showed some edema—if I've got that term right—so his oncologist put him on some pills to try and bring the swelling down. She basically told him that continuing with chemo doesn't make sense anymore. If anyone has any advice on what the next steps should be, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Angela Wright said:Look, you have to consider that brain metastases usually come from some other primary tumor somewhere else. Gliomas don't metastasize like that.

Listen, ma'am—after looking at the CT scan, the doctor was pretty clear that we're dealing with a primary brain tumor that has spread. But honestly? My gut feeling—and it felt the same to me—is that the actual primary tumor is located somewhere else entirely, like the colon or the prostate, and it just migrated to the brain.

So, a close buddy of mine just got hit with a brain tumor diagnosis—and it’s already metastasized. It’s just unreal. Like, fifteen days ago, this guy was out there hitting several miles on his walks, feeling absolutely top-tier. Then, suddenly, the last couple of days hit and everything flipped. He’s starting to forget basic stuff, like how to tie his own shoes, he's stumbling around, and he can't even control his hand properly. They ran a CT scan and they’ve got surgery scheduled for Tuesday. I honestly can't wrap my head around it... how a diagnosis can go from zero to being this devastating so fast.

Angela Wright said:Well, one thing's for sure—it'll probably take a week or ten—but since the holidays are right around the corner, don't be surprised if things don't move until after N. G.

Hey there, I’m looking for some help here. A buddy of mine—around 60 years old—has just completely lost his strength lately. About ten days ago, we were grabbing coffee and he mentioned he wasn't feeling great, but today? Today he can't even get out of bed. He’s just feeling totally wiped out.
If you have any advice or suggestions on which doctor we should see, please let me know. We’re over in Rijeka, but honestly, we don't mind driving up to Washington, D.C. if that's what it takes.

Best,

Angela Wright said:So, they haven't actually greenlit it yet. You have to wait for the Medicare Administration commission to make their call. You’ll probably end up with some official paperwork that basically justifies why you need to seek treatment abroad—it's all about proving those costs are necessary. Some people sit tight and wait for the thumbs-up, while others just dive right in and start treatment overseas, depending on what the foreign clinics require and how much they're willing to gamble on whether the Medicare Administration ends up denying the claim later. And honestly? The timeline is anyone's guess. Given how messy and unpredictable that whole institution can be, anything goes.

When you're looking at getting treated out of the country, you can usually only get reimbursed for exams or therapies that simply aren't available here in the States—whether that's because we lack the specific expertise, the tech, or whatever else.
The usual drill is having a specialist from a public institution—not some private doctor—write up a note stating that the procedure just can't be done domestically. Then you take that recommendation to your primary care physician, who fills out the necessary forms to be sent over to the Medicare Administration for approval or denial.
I'm not 100% certain if that's exactly how the gears turn, but your family doctor should definitely know the ropes.

Dear Angela Wright,

Thanks so much for the reply.

Best regards,

George Sullivan31

Hey there,

So, my daughter is heading over to a clinic in Germany for some checkups and treatment—which is a lot to deal with, honestly—and I was wondering if there’s any way to get a partial reimbursement from Medicare. Does anyone know which specific costs Medicare actually covers in these kinds of situations?

Best,

George Sullivan31

My buddy passed away today. I just can't wrap my head around it.

My best friend’s situation has taken a massive turn for the worse. They’re currently draining fluid from his lungs—it’s brutal—and he’s just completely wiped out. I honestly can't wrap my head around how much weight he's lost; the guy has practically withered away in just a month. And as for starting chemo? Yeah, that's totally off the table for now.

So, my godfather—he’s 72 now—just got hit with a diagnosis of liver cancer that’s already spread to his pancreas. Tough break. The doctor's basically pointed him straight toward chemo, which is what everyone expects, I guess. But here’s the thing: this guy was still out there working just two months ago, running the show for two younger guys doing tiling and bathroom renovations. He’s a worker, you know? Not exactly the type to just sit around. Is there actually anything else out there besides chemo? Any other options at all?