My name is Doug Haberstroh, and I am a breast cancer husband. As a follow up to my posting for the Presidential candidates participating in Lance Armstrong's cancer forum, I am sharing a letter that my wife Keri wrote, as she fought for access to a brand name prescription painkiller (Oxycontin) for breast cancer that had spread to her bones.

While Keri is not with us today to prepare a video for the Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum, I think her letter and plight are relevant to the discussion, especially in light of John Edwards's remarks this morning about the way the insurance system is set up in this country. Edwards said he thinks the "entire system is set up to deny coverage" for those who need it, and that rings true for Keri and her breast cancer fight.    

Dear Senator:

I am writing you to express my concern over the policy of my healthcare provider. I am a one time Breast Cancer survivor and am currently battling another round of Breast Cancer that has moved into my bones. My grievance specifically concerns the healthcare I have received with respects to my healthcare provider and the way they handle access to prescription drugs.

Starting in July 2006 my Oncologist prescribed a pain medication called Oxycontin to combat the pain I was receiving because of the Breast Cancer in my bones. My healthcare provider denied Oxycontin because of its generic equivalent Oxycodone Hydrochloride. I started having problems with Oxycodone because it was not strong enough to combat my pain and would not last the prescribed 12-hour length.

My doctor's office contacted my healthcare provider for a second authorization on 11 August 2006 , again requesting the brand-name prescription of Oxycontin. Again healthcare provider denied the request stating, "Specifically, we are unable to overturn the denial because insufficient information was provided to establish medical necessity of brand name Oxycontin over generic Oxycodone controlled-release, and there is no documentation that a significant adverse reaction has occurred with the generic product."

They later provided a detailed definition of a significant adverse reaction stating, "A significant adverse reaction is defined as one that was either: life threatening, caused hospitalization, caused a disability, or required intervention to prevent impairment or damage."

I have been caused a disability due to Oxycodone but my healthcare provider decided to ignore the information sent forth by my doctor's office. I can not drive, can not sit in the same position for more than five minutes, I do not receive uninterrupted sleep for more than two consecutive hours, and I am either confined to my bed or couch throughout the day because it hurts to walk. All this information had been included in my doctor's office initial and secondary authorization request along with my medical records and all discussions between me and my Oncologist pertaining to my pain and unsuccessful treatments for that pain.