#Cancer Surgeries

[sarvodayahospital]

Surgical Oncology and Types of Cancer Surgeries

According to WHO, every 1 out of 5 individuals develop cancer in their lifetime. One treatment option for Cancer is Surgery. Sarvodaya Hospital offers advanced cancer surgical methods! Read more about them here! Catch early & begin your journey towards a cancer-free life today! 🎗️

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Blue Cross of Louisiana doesn’t give a shit about breast cancer

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me in PITTSBURGH on May 15 at WHITE WHALE BOOKS, and in PDX on Jun 20 at BARNES AND NOBLE. More tour dates here.

A jury has ordered Blue Cross of Louisiana to pay $421m to a hospital specializing in a much sought-after type of breast reconstruction, primarily for cancer survivors. The insurer "preapproved" surgeries for thousands of patients, but then held back 92% of the payments it owed, with CEO Steven Udvarhelyi insisting that "authorization never says we’re going to pay you":

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25882446-steven-udvarhelyi-deposition/#document/p1/a2630959

In a characteristically brilliant and deep investigative story, Propublica's T Christian Miller explains how Blue Cross of Louisiana colluded with other Blue Cross franchises around the country to steal hundreds of millions of dollars by denying claims they'd already approved:

https://www.propublica.org/article/blue-cross-blue-shield-louisiana-insurance-lawsuit-breast-cancer-doctors

The hospital at the center of this controversy is the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans, founded by two surgeons, Frank DellaCroce and Scott Sullivan. DellaCroce and Sullivan are pioneers of an advanced form of breast reconstruction called "autologous tissue reconstruction," which eschews implants in favor of the patient's own fat to construct new breasts. While other surgeons perform this surgery, DellaCroce and Sullivan are acknowledged as national leaders, having invented many innovative techniques and trained many of the other surgeons who perform the procedure. As a result, patients travel from all over America to the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery.

DellaCroce and Sullivan's procedure is extremely precise and labor-intensive, and it comes at a high cost. Accordingly, patients seek pre-approval from their insurer before undergoing the procedure, and in Louisiana, that usually means calling up Blue Cross, the state's largest insurer. Despite pre-approving the procedure, Blue Cross of Louisiana has held back over 90% of the payments it owed to the hospital.

Rather than throwing their patients into the Blue Cross meat-grinder, DellaCroce and Sullivan carried the unpaid balance on its books, repeatedly suing Blue Cross for the unpaid amount. Finally, last week, the a jury ordered Blue Cross to pay $421m to the hospital (Blue Cross is appealing).

The case dragged Blue Cross's sleazy behavior – normally confined to bureaucratic memos and telephone denials – into the public, and boy is it ugly. Blue Cross's official excuse for denying the claims was that it was acting in the best interest of the millions of Louisianans it insures: DellaCroce and Sullivan are simply too expensive – it's not realistic for people in an insurance pool to expect that kind of care. However, Blue Cross executives repeatedly signed one-off, "single case agreements" so that their own wives could get the procedure from DellaCroce and Sullivan.

In addition to this argument, Blue Cross insisted that the fact that it had pre-approved all of these procedures did not oblige it to pay for them after the fact. Rather, an "approval" is a bureaucratic, heavily disclaimed term of art that means, maybe we'll pay for this and maybe we won't. In court, however, the company was forced to admit that an "approved" procedure has to be paid for in all but the most exceptional instances, for example, when the patient cancels their insurance between getting approved and going in for surgery.

The insurer also claimed that there were checks and balances to prevent arbitrary claims denials, but then Blue Cross executive VP Paula Shepherd acknowledged that "an appeal is not available to review an underpayment." As Miller writes, "The insurer simply issued an edict — the payment was correct."

Meanwhile, Blue Cross didn't just save money by denying the claims it had approved – it made money. Other Blue Cross organizations in different states would pay 16% kickbacks to the Louisiana Blue Cross, splitting the take every time it denied a payment.

All of this added up to means, motive and opportunity to engage in unbelievably sleazy – and fraudulent – behavior. Overall, Blue Cross paid $43m on $500m worth of invoices from the hospital. In 60% of claims, it paid nothing.

Blue Cross is one of the nation's largest health insurers, and Blue Cross's argument for stiffing this hospital is the argument for letting insurers buy one another up and grow to unimaginable scale. In David Dayen's amazing 2020 book Monopolized, he lays out the procession of America's morbid health care monopolization:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/29/fractal-bullshit/#dayenu

First, we allowed pharma companies to merge to monopoly, which gave them the power to screw hospitals with sky-high drug prices. So the hospitals defensively merged into regional monopolies with the power to negotiate those prices down, but this also gave them the power to overbill insurers. So the insurers also merged until they could resist the hospital chains' pricing power and force rates down.

And indeed, 97% of doctors and hospitals have a negotiated rate with Blue Cross of Louisiana (remember, it's the state's largest insurer). But DellaCroce and Sullivan haven't joined the Blue Cross network, because the rates the insurer offered wouldn't even cover the costs of the surgeries.

The theory that monopolies will defend us from other monopolies is a disastrous example of "the old lady who swallowed a fly" strategy. For the strategy to work, everyone has to be a monopolist, otherwise they'll get steamrollered – on their wages, their care, or their compensation.

And of course, patients don't get to merge to monopoly (that's what governments are for, and we know how Blue Cross feels about single payer care). Workers don't get to merge to monopoly either (that's what unions are for, and no one hates a union more than a health care monopolist).

Blue Cross's position – the position of the entire for-profit health industry – is that they should be able to grow as large as they can, at the expense of us, the patients. In other words, they are economic tumors – so no wonder they're on the side of breast cancer.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/12/pre-authorization/#is-not-a-guarantee-of-payment

[lesbianshepard]

when i was a young teen i had this daydream where i would be out hiking and get attacked by some large animal. i would heroically fight off this creature, but then i would wake up in the hospital and the doctor would tell me "we couldn't save your tits. the animal just tore your tits clean off. your chest is now flat and you have these wicked scars. we're so sorry for your loss" and i would be like it's okay i understand. 😌

[penvisions]

dev gets hip surgery

realized i never actually made a post about this other than silly little afterthought ones. but here it goes- i'm officially having surgery on my hip the first half of june!

it's a pretty major surgery and the main objective is to remove a soft cell sarcoma they identified on an MRI

even with my insurance, it's going to be a large sum due up front in order to get the surgery and i am humbly, hesitantly, cautiously asking for help with this official post. initially, y'all have really come through and it's been such an amazing thing to see and be on the receiving end of. i'm so grateful for shares and support and donations received thus far, y'all have no idea how much it means to me that we are still capable of banding together to support each other despite recent drama

i'm still working as much as i can, but i am feeling the effects of everything and dealing with these issues for over a year now is catching up with me. 2 months of working and then filing for the necessary gov't aid will be all i'll have for the entirety of my 4-6 month recovery period- there are more details in the post below

-> gofund me link

-> ko-fi link

thank you, thank you, thank you to every single one of you. so much love and hope the days are good to you

x.o dev

[housecow]

Do you like have a job?

HAHA no, not really 😗 i’m doing research tho and have a stipend for that. im in the process of/have been applying to grad schools as well. also keeping busy and actively looking for jobs atm even though it sucks and i hate it 🤷‍♀️

i got a job offer that ended up not working out for silly reasons, but… one reason i’m working on curvage stuff is because i would LOVE to be a full time fatty… we’ll see though, i’m still moving forward in life regardless :))

[jenthebug]

Had an ultrasound (abdominal, for my wound) today which sounded kinda inconclusive.

Also had a CT scan of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis for my oncologist. That one found a lymph node that has doubled in size, and I’m trying not to freak out. Tissue sampling (biopsy) is suggested.

Can I freak out a little?

I know they don’t joke around so I can’t email the radiologist all like “say sike right now.”

What I don’t know is what, besides more cancer, would cause a lymph node to double in size. Or if there’s a medication that I can take that doesn’t give me brain fog.

I’m doing SO GOOD at work right now.

Brain fog would fuck that all up. I just got my brain back and am doing well and somewhat enjoying myself, which tells me that I’ll have a blast when I get the hang of things.

We’ll see what oncology says.

[localdorkincombatboots]

*URGENT* PLEASE HELP

My family has been struggling with being financially behind for a while now due to my man's cancer and a lot of other factors and right now we desperately need help to not become homeless.

We're about $150 short on rent and then even if we manage to get that together, we also have literally no money for food or anything until next week when I next get paid.

And to make matters worse, my man has a consultation coming up for surgery on the hernia on his stomach which means we're gonna be losing more work and we've not had a single chance to be able to put money back to get through that.

PayPal: JacquelineP951

Cashapp: jayep7

Venmo: jayep7

Literally anything you can send helps and please reblog this so that the next person who could help might see this.

[taibhsearachd]

Airing out his one ball is so important to him that we have several pictures of him doing this.

Anyway if you want to donate toward getting him neutered (because it is a scary operation that's more complicated than a normal neuter bc they have to do exploratory surgery to check if he has another hidden ball)... pls send money to this paypal, I promise any money you send to us will go directly toward removing my dog's weird singular ball.

[starwrighter]

You know what I love in DpxDc crossovers?

When people explain Jason's pit madness as having to do with ectoplasm. Whether it be the hc that the pits are corrupted ectoplasm, Jason being a revenant before being dunked in the pits or any other idea/theory I love it all!

But you know what I don't see much of? The pit madness being seen as something more clinical. In most of the DpxDc crossovers I've read it's always treated as something that can be easily and quickly fixed. I don't see much content about Jason's pit madness being treated like an serious illness and it's honestly underrated.

Make his pit madness be like cancer for ghost's. Something spread throughout his body like a fucked up spider web slowly killing him as it continues to go untreated. Making his life emotionally and oftentimes physically painful. Have Jason assume his pain is just the consequences of his vigilante life since nobody could ever diagnose him with anything.

Danny feeling heartbroken when he sees Jason not because he can sniff it out or sense it but because he can see it. Oftentimes cancer doesn't show symptoms until it's advanced. For Danny this is like seeing someone who's medical treatment has been so neglected that they're covered in tumors! Danny screaming bloody murder at Bruce for allowing things to get this far; for not getting him help and allowing things to fester like this. Danny's ugly crying because he's a child and he doesn't know how to react to something like this! It's a horrifying sight when medical care is neglected, but seeing someone suffering so much without even knowing what's going on? It's terrifying.

Jason trying to comfort Danny but Danny just starts crying harder because Jason doesn't know what the hell is going on and someone has to be the one to tell him.

Treat Jason's pit madness as a symptom of something bigger, not something that can be fixed with the flick of a wrist. Show me the grief of having a loved one/being the loved one suffering from something that has a good chance of killing them. Where the treatment can make you feel worse than the disease does sometimes. Seeing a loved one get weaker and weaker yet reassuring yourself it's just the process of healing and they're going to be fine.

Have it be something that's treatment is long and strenuous, something that might need surgery to fix. Jason needing a bone marrow transplant or an organ and Danny being the only halfa that's willing to give it to him. Jason having to choose whether he's willing to risk a child's life to save himself or if he's just going to die a second time.

(Bonus! Have Jason deny the operation but Doctors work differently in the realms so it's done anyway without his consent. Does Jason think Danny died from the operation? Maybe it's some important ghost bone marrow/organ and the doctors being dodgey and refusing to let anyone see Danny before he's recovered enough? Jason grieving over a child and lashing out because "why would anyone decide the life of a child was something you could throw away like that!")

[taracandycorn]

So a bit of a contemplative piece today.

I am gonna have a partial nephrectomy for what is very probably kidney cancer in the next few weeks. I’m kinda just resigned to it, not really afraid but not thrilled about the surgery.

But it did lead to this art.

[rileykitty]

Rest in peace, Shadow (May 2011 - Feb 18, 2025)

I had to say goodbye to my sweet boy last week, on the night of Feb 18. He was the most loving and gentle cat I've ever met, and I treasured every minute of the 13 1/2 years we shared together.

Shadow always had to be right by my side, following me room to room and curling up close by my pillow or under the blankets at night. He would keep me up often because of how loudly he would purr, and how much he cuddled and rolled around. My heart is completely shattered by the loss, but I'll love him forever.

Miss you so much, little buddy.

[kris-performs-surgery]

#133

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[penvisions]

i need some help, fellow language nerds- pretty please

so, when all is said and done with the surgery and potentially a round of chemo pills / whatever they decide to do to help with the cancer afterwards, i really want to get the word survivor tattooed on my knuckles in mando'a but i'm having a bit of trouble getting a clear translation. y'all know i'm a tattoo girlie, always have been and always will so this seems rather fitting and it's an idea that's stuck in my head recently

@djarins-cyare i know all the amazing research you put into your immaculate fic and thought maybe you could help me out or point me in the right direction?

but also- a huge, immense THANK YOU OH MY GOSH to the support y'all have shown me with the fundraisers i've got to help get me to the surgery start line, i'm honestly speechless at the way everyone's rallied on my silly little behalf and i am so beyond humbled and grateful for every kind word and little donation toward the bill i'm about to face, i seriously owe each and every one of you so much for everything- for helping me take my life back into my own hands as i face this reality altering diagnosis and insane recovery prospect. i love you. sincerely, endlessly, genuinely.

x.o dev

[duchessofostergotlands]

I mean from what we know of the British royals health has always been fine until this year

I mean, the Queen did die before this year and I haven’t looked it up but I believe death is a pretty serious health issue

[iero]

Just went to see my OB/GYN to discuss an ultrasound result and there is a risk I might have endometrial cancer! FUCK my whole entire life!

[jenthebug]

I walked 1.5 miles today!

It was at the mall and I didn’t even spend any money there!

My wounds didn’t hurt much! Are they getting better after being imaged, like a car that stops making noise when it’s at the mechanic?

I also looked over my CT results to see if they’d changed overnight. No they haven’t. Say sike right now.

I got my new pink phone case, so hooray for that little bit of ☺️.

Mean Aunt called, ostensibly to see how I’m doing, but really she just wanted to bitch about politics. I told her to call her reps. She didn’t like that very much.

Tomorrow is my Monday. I’m looking forward to going back to work where things are normal and I’m too busy getting my ass handed to me to worry about cancer or Cory (he’s missing school again) or my abdominal wounds.

Work days are harder, but they’re simpler: I wake up early, I throw the fuck down for 12 hours, I come home, I go to bed. I think about nothing but 🚑.