Monday, September 16, 2013

THANKFUL FOR MY CANCER EXPERIENCE? YES OR NO?

By Carol L. Soskin
 

Flashback to seven years ago . . .

 
After over a year of weight loss, flu like symptoms and coughs, a year filled with X-rays, biopsies and other tests, my neck became very swollen and I was having trouble breathing.  I was informed that my lung had collapsed.  I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  I was immediately admitted to the hospital and started chemo.  My life changed before my very eyes; this wasn't supposed to be happening to me!

I had treatments every three weeks, then radiation.  All through it I kept my sense of humor but I felt that I was in another world.  Or was it another planet?  This was my new reality now. 

My great friends, family and doctors helped me on this journey to save my life.  It was shortly thereafter that I found the Cancer Support Community-Benjamin Center (CSC).  I made wonderful new friends and regularly attended the Writing Group.  The feedback about my writing as well as listening to other peoples’ writing helped me move forward with my life both mentally and physically.  I include the support group ‘Time to Talk’ and the many educational lectures at CSC in this story of gratitude. 

CSC understood.

Cancer gave me many gifts.

So the answer is  .  . . yes, I am very thankful!!
 
 
CSC's Writing Group meets every Wednesday from 1 - 3pm.  Time to Talk, a drop-in group for people with cancer meets every Monday from 2:30 - 4:30pm.  All CSC groups are run by psychotherapists.
 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, September 8, 2013

How Therapy Helped Me During My Breast Cancer Journey



Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. -Helen Keller

   I have been in therapy, off and on, ever since I was about 12 years old because besides coming from a dysfunctional family, I've also suffered abuse from others outside of my family and endured several difficult situations in which I had to struggle to survive. Some of it was racial, because I'm an African-American female, and some of it was like a reenactment of the unsupportive and brutal childhood I lived through. In 2003, I was the target of a stalker while working as a Circulation Page at the Santa Monica Library; the experience left me with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.  PTSD is "a set of emotional problems that can occur after someone has experienced a terrible, stressful life event".  I also have an ulcer and lupus. Throughout all of this I tried to function enough to work, go to school and conduct my life.
   Just when I thought I had enough on my plate to deal with I was diagnosed with Stage II A Breast Cancer in 2010. I sank into a deep depression following my first chemo treatment due to a low blood count that caused my Oncologist to check me into the Neupogen ward of the hospital. Once there I was told by the doctors that I had to withdraw from my classes, couldn't work or go out in public since my immune system wasn't strong enough. During my three year journey with breast cancer both my ulcer and lupus have given me so many complications I had quite a few setbacks causing further depression. Once, when my general practitioner visited me in the hospital, she noticed how down I seemed so she prescribed Zoloft and told me to make an appointment with a therapist.
   Following her suggestion, as soon as I could go out in public, I attended six counseling sessions at Cancer Support Community-Benjamin Center, and other longer term sessions elsewhere. In addition to the counseling I also started going to CSC-BC's Writing Group and the "Cancer and Creativity" art therapy group in Santa Monica. To sum up all of my therapy treatments, thus far, they've helped me start over with cancer as an impetus. I'm learning how to finally seek out supportive environments and relationships, for the first time in my life, and use my sessions as a place to not only express anger and frustration about my past but about cancer, too. I can also clear my head enough to deal with all of the decisions I've had to make regarding my health and life right now without distractions.
   My challenge with cancer has also been harder because of my PTSD since cancer has just been one more "terrible event that occurred to me that I didn't choose or want.  The difference with the therapy I'm now getting, as opposed to my previous experiences, is it deals with PTSD directly and shows me a way that I can "seek safety" by taking care of myself physically and emotionally. I've continued asking for help when I need it, use community resources, and participate in healthy activities (e.g., reading, writing and tap dancing) to relax and relieve stress on a daily basis. Even though one of the most difficult things was for me to admit I needed help and see my therapists and others as allies, it was the most useful tool I've learned. I was so used to putting on a brave front that I often became overwhelmed.  Their advice to "stop and listen to my body" helped me more often than not.
   Two problems I constantly deal with, as a person with PTSD going through the cancer journey, are how to establish boundaries and not respond to triggers. Previously I just accepted dramatic situations as a part of my life but ever since I got cancer they've caused me so much  stress so I've had to limit the amount of drama in my life. With therapy, I've learned how to detach from unhealthy relationships and walk away from drama.
   Today I'm in the post-cancer drug phase of my journey and from where I currently sit my future's still a little hazy but I know with continued therapy it'll become clearer.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

People with Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace


Frequently Asked Questions

Posted by by Michael Grodsky, Artist Insurance Services.

HOW WILL THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE THAT STARTS IN 2014 AFFECT MY MEDICARE COVERAGE? 

The Health Insurance Marketplace is designed to help people who don’t have any health insurance. You have health insurance through Medicare. The Marketplace won’t have any effect on your Medicare coverage. 

Your Medicare benefits aren’t changing. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll still have the same benefits and security you have now, and you won’t have to make any changes. 

The Marketplace provides new health insurance options for many Americans. If you have family and friends who don’t have health insurance, tell them to visit HealthCare.gov to learn more about their options. 

DO I NEED TO DO ANYTHING WITH MARKETPLACE PLANS DURING MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT (OCTOBER 15 – DECEMBER 7, 2013)?

Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7, 2013) is the time when all people with Medicare are encouraged to review their current health and prescription drug coverage, including any changes in costs, coverage and benefits that will take effect next year. If you want to change your coverage for next year, this is the time to do it. If you’re satisfied that your current coverage will continue to meet your needs for next year, you don’t need to do anything. For more information on Medicare Open Enrollment, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

NOTE: The Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period (October 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014) overlaps with the Medicare Open Enrollment period (October 15 – December 7, 2013). Therefore, people with Medicare who are looking to make Medicare coverage changes should make sure that they are reviewing Medicare plans and not Marketplace options.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M CONTACTED ABOUT SIGNING UP FOR A HEALTH PLAN? „„ 
  • The Medicare open enrollment period is a time when there’s a higher risk for fraudulent activities.
  • It’s against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan.
  • DO NOT share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who knocks on your door or contacts you uninvited to sell you a health plan.
  • Senior Medicare Patrol programs are teaching people with Medicare how to detect and report fraud, and protect themselves from fraudulent activity and identity theft.
  • To learn more about health care fraud and ways to protect against it, visit StopMedicareFraud.gov or the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program in your area (locate your SMP at SMPresource.org). 
If you need help with your Medicare or health insurance, RSVP for a monthly Health Insurance 101 drop in session at CSC, or contact Michael Grodsky.

Michael Grodsky is owner of Artist Insurance Services (www.artist911.com), providing employee benefits for California arts and cultural organizations, and insurance for individuals & families. 

An Accredited Investment Fiduciary, he serves on the board of Side Street Projects (www.sidestreet.org), a nonprofit artist-run organization. Michael is also an insurance and financial planning specialist for GYST (www.gyst-ink.com), an company providing information and technology solutions for artists by artists.

At the Cancer Support Community, Benjamin Center (Santa Monica, CA), Michael hosts a monthly educational hour for people wishing to decipher and understand their options for Medicare and health insurance.




Artist Insurance Services
Michael Grodsky, AIF
phone: (323) 293-6800
email: michael@artist911.com
CA insurance license 0F43491