We need better (earlier) detection and faster access to it.
Luckily Urgent Care was able to go from ultrasound to CT scan in 1 day. The long wait time has come from the insurance honestly.
Had to go to a different hospital because the original one I went to has to get an approval from United before getting it done (other hospital 2 blocks away doesn't have that same requirement??)
I got referred to a dedicated cancer center and then guess what, I have to call United and ask them to approve it - but I can't get an appointment to do that for 2 weeks.
Ended up doing all the legwork on my own and was able to get a consultation done within a week. Now I'm having to do biopsies, PET scan, ect. Depending on the result I might be able to get it removed next week!
But the pain has become so severe I can't eat, sleep, even lay down without extreme discomfort. I can't imagine waiting around on the insurance to walk me through it.
Funny enough, United sent us a letter in the mail asking if I really wanted to get that original CT scan! Like no, I'd rather not know I have a 7" tumor in my abdomen. Simply a joke of an industry
I wonder if this is regional. I was able to get an MRI scheduled within a couple weeks when I needed one for my non-urgent condition. This was in Chicago, so maybe we're just blessed with a surplus of MRI machines.
Meanwhile there are imaging labs that can do walk-ins if you're willing to pay cash and they have the slack in their schedule, usually somewhat cheap compared to what they'll bill insurance (and if you have a HDHP, what you'll pay). They don't want those machines idle, a gap in the schedule is money they aren't making.
How long? It took me 1 day to get a CT at a clinic and a few hours in the ER.
It 100% depends on your situation. I've had two clinical MRIs done in my life. One was same day. One was scheduled out a few days.