colonoscopy question

I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?

garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:

> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?

The Australian health care system works differently from US.
For your peace of mind, get it done before you leave.
J

garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?

Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
because never wanted to go see a doctor.....

"blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163374924.597997.319950@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>
> garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
>> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
>> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
>> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
>> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
>> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
>
> Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
> your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
> cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
> for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
> emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
> because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
>

Some parts of Canada have long waitlists for some procedures.
Your statement is a silly oversimplification

Well said Steph. The responses make it sound as though Australia and Canada
are 3rd world countries! Hopefully this is not intentional. Health care in
Australia is the same as in any other first world country - usually
excellent, occasionally wanting.

The original poster will have no trouble getting a colonoscopy done here,
assuming you are coming to one of the big cities. Any records you can bring
would help you. Good luck and enjoy your time in Australia.

"Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in message
news:f5P5h.294786$1T2.179830@pd7urf2no...
>
> "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1163374924.597997.319950@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>>
>> garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
>>> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
>>> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
>>> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
>>> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
>>> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
>>
>> Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
>> your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
>> cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
>> for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
>> emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
>> because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
>>
>
> Some parts of Canada have long waitlists for some procedures.
> Your statement is a silly oversimplification
>

Viviane wrote:

> Well said Steph. The responses make it sound as though Australia and Canada
> are 3rd world countries! Hopefully this is not intentional. Health care in
> Australia is the same as in any other first world country - usually
> excellent, occasionally wanting.
>
> The original poster will have no trouble getting a colonoscopy done here,
> assuming you are coming to one of the big cities. Any records you can bring
> would help you. Good luck and enjoy your time in Australia.

Colonoscopy in Canada: 3 months wait if there's bleeding, longer if there's no
signs or previous benign polyp history. [previous cancer history - probably a
week]. The referring doctor indicates the priority.

In the US, he can probably get one within a week, if he has insurance.
In Australia, he'd have to pay upfront, then get reimbursed from his insurance.
(that's what patients have experienced, when visiting Australia) and the same
for Canada.

What's the wait times in Australia?
J

Ok, the consensus seems to be to get it done before I leave in January,
rather than wait an extra six to nine months -- no matter what country
I get it done in, right?



J wrote:
> Viviane wrote:
>
> > Well said Steph. The responses make it sound as though Australia and Canada
> > are 3rd world countries! Hopefully this is not intentional. Health care in
> > Australia is the same as in any other first world country - usually
> > excellent, occasionally wanting.
> >
> > The original poster will have no trouble getting a colonoscopy done here,
> > assuming you are coming to one of the big cities. Any records you can bring
> > would help you. Good luck and enjoy your time in Australia.
>
> Colonoscopy in Canada: 3 months wait if there's bleeding, longer if there's no
> signs or previous benign polyp history. [previous cancer history - probably a
> week]. The referring doctor indicates the priority.
>
> In the US, he can probably get one within a week, if he has insurance.
> In Australia, he'd have to pay upfront, then get reimbursed from his insurance.
> (that's what patients have experienced, when visiting Australia) and the same
> for Canada.
>
> What's the wait times in Australia?
> J

On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
>> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
>> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
>> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
>> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
>> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
>
>Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
>your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
>cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
>for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
>emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
>because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen, or
are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
public health care system.
The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction of
what it will cost in the USA.
In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.

matt weber wrote:
> On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
> >> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
> >> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
> >> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
> >> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
> >> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
> >
> >Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
> >your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
> >cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
> >for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
> >emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
> >because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
> In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
> relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
> However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen, or
> are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
> public health care system.
> The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
> are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction of
> what it will cost in the USA.
> In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.


The conversation is now more about the different medical systems in
different countries. As far as I know (and I know just a little) there
are big differences in how people get access to treatments, tests ets.
Canada is not on the list of third world countries, however going by
what one can hear on daily radio shows about medical waiting lists it
is an eye opener. One cannot get private medical insurance in Canada.
One can however against full payment go to a private clinic. I just
did, have cancer and put on a two full month waiting list for a CT
scan, paid $1100 to get it done in a private medical facility (in
Canada) a lot of people go across the border to the US as there it
seems appointments can be had way faster.
I am sure that ten different people have ten different experiences,
this is general. Big city where I am not enough doctors, not enough
medical equipment etc etc etc. Does it make a difference whether oen
is white/black/male/female/rich/poor, yes it does.

<les705@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163464201.896721.203840@m7g2000cwm.googlegro ups.com...
>
> matt weber wrote:
>> On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
>> >> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said
>> >> come
>> >> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come
>> >> back
>> >> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
>> >> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
>> >> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
>> >
>> >Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
>> >your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
>> >cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
>> >for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
>> >emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
>> >because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
>> In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
>> relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
>> However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen, or
>> are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
>> public health care system.
>> The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
>> are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction of
>> what it will cost in the USA.
>> In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.
>
>
> The conversation is now more about the different medical systems in
> different countries. As far as I know (and I know just a little) there
> are big differences in how people get access to treatments, tests ets.
> Canada is not on the list of third world countries, however going by
> what one can hear on daily radio shows about medical waiting lists it
> is an eye opener. One cannot get private medical insurance in Canada.
> One can however against full payment go to a private clinic. I just
> did, have cancer and put on a two full month waiting list for a CT
> scan, paid $1100 to get it done in a private medical facility (in
> Canada) a lot of people go across the border to the US as there it
> seems appointments can be had way faster.
> I am sure that ten different people have ten different experiences,
> this is general. Big city where I am not enough doctors, not enough
> medical equipment etc etc etc. Does it make a difference whether oen
> is white/black/male/female/rich/poor, yes it does.
>

I can tell you that if one of my patients truly needs a CT scan or MRI scan
within the next 24 hours, they will get it. I suspect it is the same in most
Canadian cities.
What is also true is that many CT scans are of absolutely no benefit or use,
and the radiology departments are quite right to run waiting list for them

I've not had a colonoscopy done here so don't know what the waiting times
are. At a guess you could get an appointment in a couple of weeks at the
most if you have private health insurance. If you don't and it's not an
emergency you could wait a few months. If you have bleeding I would hope
the waiting time would be quick.

Sorry I was quick to bite but I was astounded to read that the US is viewed
as setting the bench mark for health care around the world. Some of the
posts I have read from Americans and the lack of treatment they've had
because of no insurance are heart breaking. For all its faults, the
Australian system hasn't yet reached the nadir of refusing treatment to
those who can't pay.

"J" <ercent@anon.inv> wrote in message
news:45583F85.9C96D03B@execulink.com...
> Viviane wrote:
>
>> Well said Steph. The responses make it sound as though Australia and
>> Canada
>> are 3rd world countries! Hopefully this is not intentional. Health care
>> in
>> Australia is the same as in any other first world country - usually
>> excellent, occasionally wanting.
>>
>> The original poster will have no trouble getting a colonoscopy done here,
>> assuming you are coming to one of the big cities. Any records you can
>> bring
>> would help you. Good luck and enjoy your time in Australia.
>
> Colonoscopy in Canada: 3 months wait if there's bleeding, longer if
> there's no
> signs or previous benign polyp history. [previous cancer history -
> probably a
> week]. The referring doctor indicates the priority.
>
> In the US, he can probably get one within a week, if he has insurance.
> In Australia, he'd have to pay upfront, then get reimbursed from his
> insurance.
> (that's what patients have experienced, when visiting Australia) and the
> same
> for Canada.
>
> What's the wait times in Australia?
> J
>

les705@gmail.com wrote:
> matt weber wrote:
>> On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
>>>> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
>>>> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
>>>> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
>>>> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
>>>> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
>>> Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
>>> your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
>>> cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
>>> for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
>>> emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
>>> because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
>> In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
>> relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
>> However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen, or
>> are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
>> public health care system.
>> The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
>> are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction of
>> what it will cost in the USA.
>> In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.
>
>
> The conversation is now more about the different medical systems in
> different countries. As far as I know (and I know just a little) there
> are big differences in how people get access to treatments, tests ets.
> Canada is not on the list of third world countries, however going by
> what one can hear on daily radio shows about medical waiting lists it
> is an eye opener. One cannot get private medical insurance in Canada.
> One can however against full payment go to a private clinic. I just
> did, have cancer and put on a two full month waiting list for a CT
> scan, paid $1100 to get it done in a private medical facility (in
> Canada) a lot of people go across the border to the US as there it
> seems appointments can be had way faster.
> I am sure that ten different people have ten different experiences,
> this is general. Big city where I am not enough doctors, not enough
> medical equipment etc etc etc. Does it make a difference whether oen
> is white/black/male/female/rich/poor, yes it does.
>
Well I have to say in defense of the Canadian medical system. My son
lived in White Rock, B.C He had wonderful treatment, and never waited
for more than a couple weeks at the most for anything he ever had to
have done. The treatment he received from his doctors and nurses were
second to none. Everything was paid for, even all his prescriptions, and
believe me, there were a lot of those. He never ever had to wait to see
his doctor, he was always taken straight into a room, and shortly seen.
I only have good things to say about the Canadian system. Maybe he just
got lucky with the team he had, I don't know. Unfortunately he wasn't
lucky enough to beat the cancer. He was 23 years old.

Caz
Scott's mom

Steph wrote:
> <les705@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1163464201.896721.203840@m7g2000cwm.googlegro ups.com...
> >
> > matt weber wrote:
> >> On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> >garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
> >> >> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said
> >> >> come
> >> >> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come
> >> >> back
> >> >> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
> >> >> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
> >> >> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
> >> >
> >> >Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
> >> >your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
> >> >cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
> >> >for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
> >> >emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
> >> >because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
> >> In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
> >> relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
> >> However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen, or
> >> are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
> >> public health care system.
> >> The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
> >> are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction of
> >> what it will cost in the USA.
> >> In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.
> >
> >
> > The conversation is now more about the different medical systems in
> > different countries. As far as I know (and I know just a little) there
> > are big differences in how people get access to treatments, tests ets.
> > Canada is not on the list of third world countries, however going by
> > what one can hear on daily radio shows about medical waiting lists it
> > is an eye opener. One cannot get private medical insurance in Canada.
> > One can however against full payment go to a private clinic. I just
> > did, have cancer and put on a two full month waiting list for a CT
> > scan, paid $1100 to get it done in a private medical facility (in
> > Canada) a lot of people go across the border to the US as there it
> > seems appointments can be had way faster.
> > I am sure that ten different people have ten different experiences,
> > this is general. Big city where I am not enough doctors, not enough
> > medical equipment etc etc etc. Does it make a difference whether oen
> > is white/black/male/female/rich/poor, yes it does.
> >
>
> I can tell you that if one of my patients truly needs a CT scan or MRI scan
> within the next 24 hours, they will get it. I suspect it is the same in most
> Canadian cities.
> What is also true is that many CT scans are of absolutely no benefit or use,
> and the radiology departments are quite right to run waiting list for them

Well I wish then you were an MD in my neighbourhood. My referral had
EMERGENCY written all over it and two month waiting. If you sau that an
MRI and/or CT are of no use then why have them? In any event it is all
a long debate with no solutions and every area has different rules and
oprions and everyone has different experiences. I would never be in
such a hurry if it was not cancer I have and that by itself just
requirs more medical appointments than if one has a yearly checkup and
waits their turn (I did that for many decades without complaining), not
complaining does not help. I'll end my ramblings, other important
issues to look after like who wants to be in my will?

Ok. thanks fo the input; I have primo insurance, so I'll likely try to
get a quickie done in the next month or so here in the US and save my
experiences for the Australian health care system for my urgent needs
when I'm over there. More than money or waiting times, I was wondering
if getting one done in five years and eight months raised the risk
substantially instead of getting one done five years on the nose.


les705@gmail.com wrote:
> matt weber wrote:
> > On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
> > >> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
> > >> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
> > >> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
> > >> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
> > >> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
> > >
> > >Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
> > >your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
> > >cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
> > >for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
> > >emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
> > >because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
> > In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
> > relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
> > However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen, or
> > are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
> > public health care system.
> > The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
> > are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction of
> > what it will cost in the USA.
> > In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.
>
>
> The conversation is now more about the different medical systems in
> different countries. As far as I know (and I know just a little) there
> are big differences in how people get access to treatments, tests ets.
> Canada is not on the list of third world countries, however going by
> what one can hear on daily radio shows about medical waiting lists it
> is an eye opener. One cannot get private medical insurance in Canada.
> One can however against full payment go to a private clinic. I just
> did, have cancer and put on a two full month waiting list for a CT
> scan, paid $1100 to get it done in a private medical facility (in
> Canada) a lot of people go across the border to the US as there it
> seems appointments can be had way faster.
> I am sure that ten different people have ten different experiences,
> this is general. Big city where I am not enough doctors, not enough
> medical equipment etc etc etc. Does it make a difference whether oen
> is white/black/male/female/rich/poor, yes it does.

nickravo1@gmail.com wrote:
> Ok. thanks fo the input; I have primo insurance, so I'll likely try to
> get a quickie done in the next month or so here in the US and save my
> experiences for the Australian health care system for my urgent needs
> when I'm over there. More than money or waiting times, I was wondering
> if getting one done in five years and eight months raised the risk
> substantially instead of getting one done five years on the nose.
>
>
> les705@gmail.com wrote:
> > matt weber wrote:
> > > On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
> > > >> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said come
> > > >> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come back
> > > >> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
> > > >> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
> > > >> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
> > > >
> > > >Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have all
> > > >your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
> > > >cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long waitinglists
> > > >for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
> > > >emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
> > > >because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
> > > In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
> > > relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
> > > However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen, or
> > > are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
> > > public health care system.
> > > The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
> > > are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction of
> > > what it will cost in the USA.
> > > In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.
> >
> >
> > The conversation is now more about the different medical systems in
> > different countries. As far as I know (and I know just a little) there
> > are big differences in how people get access to treatments, tests ets.
> > Canada is not on the list of third world countries, however going by
> > what one can hear on daily radio shows about medical waiting lists it
> > is an eye opener. One cannot get private medical insurance in Canada.
> > One can however against full payment go to a private clinic. I just
> > did, have cancer and put on a two full month waiting list for a CT
> > scan, paid $1100 to get it done in a private medical facility (in
> > Canada) a lot of people go across the border to the US as there it
> > seems appointments can be had way faster.
> > I am sure that ten different people have ten different experiences,
> > this is general. Big city where I am not enough doctors, not enough
> > medical equipment etc etc etc. Does it make a difference whether oen
> > is white/black/male/female/rich/poor, yes it does.

If you don't have any worrisome symptons my guess would be that 5 years
and 8 months would not make a difference. If there are symptons it is
different of course. I hope you have a pleasant year in Australia where
the summer begins just around this time of the year!

Usually yes. However we are in the middle of a cold snap, leading to the
weird situation that snow and hail are extinguishing bush fires that are
burning madly!

"marchingon" <les705@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163559273.226357.51160@h48g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>
> nickravo1@gmail.com wrote:
>> Ok. thanks fo the input; I have primo insurance, so I'll likely try to
>> get a quickie done in the next month or so here in the US and save my
>> experiences for the Australian health care system for my urgent needs
>> when I'm over there. More than money or waiting times, I was wondering
>> if getting one done in five years and eight months raised the risk
>> substantially instead of getting one done five years on the nose.
>>
>>
>> les705@gmail.com wrote:
>> > matt weber wrote:
>> > > On 12 Nov 2006 15:42:04 -0800, "blogger 604" <blogger604@gmail.com>
>> > > wrote:
>> > >
>> > > >
>> > > >garagecapital@gmail.com wrote:
>> > > >> I had one at 42 when I had symptoms -- passed, a breeze. They said
>> > > >> come
>> > > >> back in three years. I did -- and passed, a breeze. They said come
>> > > >> back
>> > > >> in five. Well, five years is here, but I'm being tranferred to
>> > > >> Australia for a year or so. Can this wait. Or should I look for a
>> > > >> doctor who can rush me in. Or do it in AUS?
>> > > >
>> > > >Yes, if you can get it done in the USA before you leave. They have
>> > > >all
>> > > >your medical history. If you go to another country it will be
>> > > >cumbersome and I believe Australia (like Canada) have long
>> > > >waitinglists
>> > > >for all medical provedures and very long waiting lists for non
>> > > >emergency treatments. Get it done, my father died of colon cancer
>> > > >because never wanted to go see a doctor.....
>> > > In general untrue. Waiting lists in Australia for most procedures are
>> > > relatively short compared to the horror stories you hear.
>> > > However unless you are in Australia as a landed immigrant, Citizen,
>> > > or
>> > > are from a country with recipriprical coverage, you are outside the
>> > > public health care system.
>> > > The private side of the system tends to be very efficient, and odds
>> > > are the procedure can be done in Australia privately for a fraction
>> > > of
>> > > what it will cost in the USA.
>> > > In January I had a head CT. 200USD dollars as a private patient.
>> >
>> >
>> > The conversation is now more about the different medical systems in
>> > different countries. As far as I know (and I know just a little) there
>> > are big differences in how people get access to treatments, tests ets.
>> > Canada is not on the list of third world countries, however going by
>> > what one can hear on daily radio shows about medical waiting lists it
>> > is an eye opener. One cannot get private medical insurance in Canada.
>> > One can however against full payment go to a private clinic. I just
>> > did, have cancer and put on a two full month waiting list for a CT
>> > scan, paid $1100 to get it done in a private medical facility (in
>> > Canada) a lot of people go across the border to the US as there it
>> > seems appointments can be had way faster.
>> > I am sure that ten different people have ten different experiences,
>> > this is general. Big city where I am not enough doctors, not enough
>> > medical equipment etc etc etc. Does it make a difference whether oen
>> > is white/black/male/female/rich/poor, yes it does.
>
> If you don't have any worrisome symptons my guess would be that 5 years
> and 8 months would not make a difference. If there are symptons it is
> different of course. I hope you have a pleasant year in Australia where
> the summer begins just around this time of the year!
>