I have found what I think is a lump in my breast, but I lack the insurance or resources to get it checked out. What are my options?

W.

For many people without insurance, medical questions often become financial questions. When one's life and health are at stake, however, it is always better to seek medical care first and answer the financial question later.

The possibility of breast cancer is no small matter, and a woman who suspects she may be at risk owes it to herself and her family to get it checked by a qualified medical practitioner at once. It may be nothing at all, and a simple visit to a doctor, a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant will confirm this at a reasonable cost.

If you don't have insurance, you are not bound by the rules and procedures of insurance contracts, and you are free to seek medical care in the way that suits you best. Call a clinic or women's health center and explain your circumstances. Chances are good that the people there will work with you to get the medical attention you need on a payment schedule you can live with. If you make clear that you are paying for the service out of your own pocket, you may very well get a discount. With insurance, clinic employees have to file a claim and wait for payment. They may be required to make copies of medical records and answer questions from the insurance company. All of these things involve a cost to the clinic. A self-pay patient cuts out those expenses, so a discount is a very real possibility.

The medical community has proved the value of early detection and treatment of conditions like breast cancer. Failing to spend a little money now to check out the lump in your breast may lead to astronomical medical bills later, not to mention the danger to your life. Your biggest worry right now is not the cost of having a qualified professional examine the lump you have found, it is the possibility of breast cancer. Ignoring this danger because of the cost will not make it go away. Your life is more valuable than that.

Call around to several clinics, and find the best service at the right price. Consider the option of seeing a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant first. Find out if there is a woman's health center in your community. Whatever you do, get yourself checked. This will either set your mind at ease or start you on a course of treatment that will safeguard your health.