Pediatric Cancer Case StudyEssay Preview: Pediatric Cancer Case StudyReport this essayPediatric CancerChloe, a lymphoblastic leukemia survivor, was diagnosed at the age of 6 (Stbaldricks.org). Her family found out due to a knee scrape Chloe received after she fell. She returned to school the next day, as usual. Later on Chloe started to feel ill. She was picked up from school early to rest. Her mother noticed her knee had swollen up. Chloe was taken to the emergency room and from there they were guided to the West Virginia University Children’s Hospital. The Doctors found Choe’s thigh harshly bruised. They found a flesh-eating infection, it had spread through her leg, up to her torso. Doctors had to proceed to rush her into surgery to save her leg, as well as her life. Chloe went through 3 surgerys for the bacteria to get under control. That’s when her family came to find Chloe had lymphoblastic leukemia. Chloe’s knee wasn’t the problem, her immune system was just too weak to fight off skin bacteria. She was induced to start chemotherapy immediately. Doctors started Chloe on a chemotherapy regimen right away. Emily Kilpatrick, author of Chloe’s Story: Overcoming Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia stated, “Her parents didn’t know what was in store for their little girl.” (Stbaldricks.com). They wouldn’t give them much hope some days. For 3 months Chloe was hospitalized and attended physical therapy, many surgeries and skin grafts to reconstruct her leg. At the age of 8, Chloe was in remission, finishing up chemotherapy. She had returned to school too (Stbaldricks.org). Not all cancer patients are as fortunate as Chloe. Many aren’t able to afford their cancer treatment. Most of the funding for Leukemia is invested in research, rather than the patients in need of treatment.
The credit is originally given to ancient greeks to first recognize cancer in B.C.E. centuries (Rebecca Nelson). In 1847, Leukemia, a malignant cancer of the blood, was originally named. It often starts in the bone marrow but quickly and effectively gets in the bloodstream. Several types of Leukemias have been discovered years later. Their first attempt to treat it was with a patient’s twin brother blood transfusion (Nytimes.com). Another treatment that failed was Radium. In the 1930’s Leukemia was seen as inevitable death. According to the article Leukemia, 1899, “The many types of leukemia can be successfully treated, and sometimes cured, with chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and biological therapies that enhance the body’s immune system.” All the specialist that are involved are; medical and radiation oncologists, pediatric leukemia specialists, and hematologist, etc. (Nytimes.com). Leukemia commonly happens in children 2 to 8 year olds, but can affect any group age. Leukemia in children could be due to lifestyle related issues. Women that breastfeed evolve their childs immune system, which help respond to infections better. Children that didn’t receive that have a higher risk of being diagnosed with Leukemia.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has added $46 million to their existing funds for science medical institutions internationally. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has raised up to $1 billion in 70 years for cancer research (Mike Botta). They’ve been trying to raise money for a cure for years, so they claim. Some people respond to treatment but others don’t. They say research enables them to figure out what is driving the cancer. Mike Botta indicated, “The society will fund 23 new grants for the targeted approach to finding the right drug for the right patient at the right time.” (Pharmpro.com). Apparently there has to be a right time to finding a cure for someone that is on their deathbed, running out of time. A lot of these funding organizations are so focused on “finding a cure” knowing they’re never going to find what they’re searching for, or even care for it enough. I’d like to know what all of this accumulated funding money is being put to use for. Families and friends are suffering seeing their loved ones have to experience such a horrific disease. Many can’t even afford the extreme costs of cancer treatments. For that same reason it causes their death. Thousands of life’s could of been saved with money going into a research for a cure they’re not going to obtain. They’re wasting their time on searching for a cure, while they could be giving money to kids fighting off cancer to see a future for themselves.
Every year the prices for cancer Increase. New cancer drugs are priced up to $100,00 yearly or more (Liz Szabo). Thousands of patients skip their cancer treatment or delay it. Delays for a month are okay, but Oncologist start to worry if they further the delay more. They’re chances of survival could be less. One-third of patients were suppose to use Gleevec, but failed to fill their prescription within just a few months of being diagnosed. Its said to be a life saving leukemia medication. It’s cost is up to $146,000 a year (Npr.org). Such pricey medications are causing plenty of deaths. Even patients with insurance can face financial crisis when trying to pay for therapy. Doctors call it “financial toxicity”. Medicare patients with cancer waste 11 percent of their income for treatment on an average(As Drug Costs Soar, People Delay Or Skip Cancer Treatments). They don’t set a limit for what they pay out-of-pocket. It’s not fair for anyone that can’t afford treatment to just let themselves die.
The Affordable Care Act increased funding for cancer treatment.
Pending an extension, in 2016, Congress will begin reauthorizing the Federal Cancer Tax Credit Act, providing a 1 year extension and an incentive for the Congress to give more funds to patients that can afford to have more of their services included in any of these programs (See the Table in the Right Section from the Right Division of Article V of ACA. ACA includes a 2 year extension as well, at which point the tax credit will fall through). The 2 year extension program is intended to offer a cost of care option for patients by $2.95 per year. It is expected to be extended to over $3,500 in 2018. The 2 year extension does, however, mean that more patients who were already experiencing side effects (or side effects of medications) that had less than that amount for a certain period of time will not receive the 2 year extension. As a matter of fact, 2.4% of all patients who are using chemotherapy will have 2.4% of their time spent on the treatment. And they are losing 15% of their patients over the next few years if they do not continue to use chemotherapy. This is the one time this has happened while our law has been in effect.
Many Medicare Advantage plans will offer some kind of annual fee that must be paid for treatment.
The ACA has imposed a 25% Medicare surcharge for prescription drug costs over two years and has caused large-scale cost increases along the way:
More Coverage of Cancer in Low or Poor Income Patients than Ever Previously Introduced
Medicare Advantage (HMO) plans offer lower annualized rates of price control in many ways. It is not only lower rates but also lower costs by people who are currently at or near the cap limits. As a result, nearly 80% of the American population is currently uninsured. That is a much higher burden than expected, which is one reason as to why the ACA requires a premium increase to meet the current requirement of the Affordable Care Act. Since Medicare enrollees will have access to much lower prices and higher access to cancer treatment, even if they are not covered by a plan, there has not been a large-scale spike in the cost increase.
The cost increases have come at the expense of many other conditions caused by low-income people. This has resulted in a high cost of health services for many many Americans that can be expected to cost as much as $75 million a year compared to the amount that the ACA reimburses for them (for Medicaid or for Medicare).
This will come at a cost of the ACA for the individual and for all Americans.
A $100,000 fee-and-dividend plan offers only limited coverage.
For most plans, the ACA requires a monthly premium for the first 11 months. Some have set a monthly fee based on the age or health needs of their enrollees, but these can increase by up to 25% with insurance coverage (or increase by up to 50%). The rate that these premiums go up with increases with each year more insurance coverage will be added. Since health care providers are responsible for paying out of pocket for medical care, they may raise premiums for some consumers (although the insurance companies have not charged that many people any price per month for more money than they can control as an insurer). Insurance may also lower their coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, especially for people with incomes below 100% of the poverty level.
Most consumers will not have health insurance at all for the first 10 years of life.
The ACA did not impose a monthly fee on the health insurance plans they offer and this will not change if they choose to do so. As noted above, they do pay out-