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| Father of Cy Strezo? https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=156&t=16990 |
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| Author: | nostradamus [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Father of Cy Strezo? |
Cancer patient falls behind with treatment after insurance company refuses to pay December 4, 2007 BY CLARE WALTERS Cyril Strezo knew something was wrong when he began to choke on everything he tried to eat. A seemingly healthy man known for taking as much as a half-hour to build the perfect salad, the 58-year-old never smoked or drank alcohol and said he was startled to learn cancer was ravaging his esophagus. "I never dreamed that I'd have cancer," he said of his June diagnosis. "I thought I'd have a bad heart because that runs in my family." Wrapped in a beige blanket in his Frankfort home, Strezo was not feeling well Monday morning. He took a few questions and photos for about 10 minutes before he grew too ill to continue. However, he's eager to begin a second round of chemotherapy scheduled for today. "I'm already three weeks behind," Strezo said. His insurance company, UniCare, is refusing to pay for two chemotherapy drugs. The company has deemed them "experimental and/or investigative" relative to his treatment. Lawrence Schilder, Strezo's oncologist at Midwest Center for Hematology/Oncology, said these drugs are the best available for Strezo. Tony Felts, spokesman for UniCare, said he cannot address a specific client's case due to privacy practices, but experimental or investigational treatments are excluded from coverage under the benefit plans. Schilder said insurance companies deny medications for his many patients at least two or three times a week on those grounds. "It doesn't seem appropriate that you're telling the doctor how to do medicine," he said. "If this was your father, would you want to be treated this way?" Schilder said most times doctors are forced to select a less effective drug for their patients, which also happened to Strezo during his first round of chemotherapy. Strezo first underwent eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy beginning July 3. Schilder said one of two drugs prescribed for that course of treatment was denied by UniCare, again for being "experimental and/or investigative." The oncologist said he appealed to the insurance company on Strezo's behalf, but ultimately decided to use a "less than optimal" drug to ensure insurance coverage. In late August, treatment results were positive and showed Strezo's tumor had shrunk enough to allow an esophectomy, where the esophagus is removed and replaced with a section of the stomach. Midway through the Oct. 11 surgery, a surgeon told the Strezos that a tumor had grown on Cyril's liver. The surgeon removed the affected tissue, but in just over a week the tumor grew back. Two weeks later, a second tumor was located on the liver. Schilder's new course of treatment was to use Cisplatin and Irinotecan, chemotherapy injections used to treat various types of cancers. This time, UniCare issued a denial letter for both drugs. Schilder said when a drug company creates a drug, it markets and gets Federal Drug Administration approval relevant to a specific ailment. However, drugs marketed for one type of cancer are effective and routinely prescribed by doctors for other types, which is Strezo's situation, Schilder said. "They (UniCare) hope the situation solves itself when the patient passes away," he said. "I'm outraged by the whole thing. We really don't have a whole lot of resources, but we'll continue to jump through their hoops." Jody Polka, one of Strezo's daughters, has filed an appeal with UniCare on her father's behalf and provided them with published studies validating the use of these drugs for Strezo's cancer. Felts said appeals are handled by practicing, board-certified physicians, and a decision is typically rendered in 30 days. But the Strezos can't wait that long. "His cancer is not curable, but that doesn't mean it isn't treatable," said Polka, who maintains a three-ring binder full of paperwork and correspondence with UniCare. "You just have to fight, fight, fight." The treatments will cost the Strezos $3,000 per week. Depending on how Strezo's body responds, treatment could last anywhere from eight weeks to six months. Polka said cancer has changed her father's life drastically. The father of three and grandfather of two has lost close to 100 pounds since his diagnosis. Strezo is a frail image of the man pictured in a 25th wedding anniversary photo with his wife, Terry. The couple have been married 36 years. As part owner of a trucking and excavation company, he would work from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Any free time was spent with family and a slew of friends, who well know of his die-hard love for the Green Bay Packers and White Sox. He loved to eat, but his meals now are a fraction of what a 6-year-old would eat, Polka said. He hasn't worked in six months and missed his grandson's wrestling tournament Sunday for the first time in three years. "He'd do anything to have a salad and not be sick," she said. |
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| Author: | Regular Reader [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:35 am ] |
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For Cy's sake I hope not. For all of our sakes, I hope something is done to help people like this gentleman. It's just not right, work all your life, pay the policy premiums and ... Though, I wonder why the 'experimental' drug's company hasn't already stepped forward 
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| Author: | good dolphin [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:57 am ] |
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I'll keep Cy and his family in my prayers. |
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| Author: | Frank Coztansa [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
good. one less packer fan around 
thats a terribly sad, but unfortunately not a very surprising story in this day and age. hopefully everything works out for them |
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| Author: | Cy [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Yes this is my father and unfortunately he is going through this right now. Insurance companies in this country are the worst. He started the chemo yesterday and we our paying out of pocket, I believe and the chemo doctor is helping by giving it to us at cost which still is a pretty penny. My dad has had a terrible year, first in April he got Meningitis and then the essphagus cancer a month later. He is a battler and we are praying for the best. It is a shame the insurance companies cant make this a little easier for us. As for him being a Packer fan, well I give him grief for it all the time. Although this year he has been getting in the last word. I have to hand it to him because he has always stood by them even in 85, when the Bears were kicking ass. Thanks for your support and hopefully the best will come out of this. Cy |
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| Author: | didea [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:49 pm ] |
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Our best to your father and your family - our thoughts and prayers are with you... |
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| Author: | hawkeye [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:06 pm ] |
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What the hell, this is complete crap. Cy you should send that article to as many websites as possible. Submit it to digg.com and consumerist.com especially. If the Consumerist picks it up they'll fight their asses off for you and most times have made a huge difference in cases like this. They hold a TON of weight. Best to your father and family but don't forget how powerful stories like these can be when the internet gets a hold of it. Who knows what can happen and how things could improve. |
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| Author: | spmack [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:14 pm ] |
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Sorry to hear CY. Maybe you can pitch your pop's story to the NBC peeps in your building. |
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| Author: | My Coach Vinny [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:17 pm ] |
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Cy, sorry to hear about your pa's illness and the insurance ordeal. Will pray for his recovery and the family. Good luck! |
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| Author: | Hawkeye Vince [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:49 pm ] |
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Good luck Cy - it's not going to be easy but be there for your pop and use your good name to do whatever you can to help him but mostly, be there for him. |
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| Author: | radioray [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:53 pm ] |
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Cy Guy you're My Guy so good luck and please keep us informed about your Dad. Or have Rock if you're uncomfortable doing it. |
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| Author: | nostradamus [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:25 pm ] |
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ok cy, the score needs to hold a fundraiser for your dad or at least donate a bunch of stuff to a fundraiser. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:40 pm ] |
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http://www.southtownstar.com/news/68378 ... lo.article Very good news, indeed to hear. |
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| Author: | sportsfan [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:04 am ] |
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Great news! |
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| Author: | RodeoVann [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:36 am ] |
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Cy's dad passed last night, my sympathy to his family. |
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