Borders and Chemotherapy

[dpowellnt]

I'm up against a unique problem and do not know where to go to get an answer.

A quick update on me. 65, initial psa 55, Gleason 9 in 16. No mets visible. Radiation summer of 16. Been on Erleada, Zolodex, Xtandi, Casodex, and Zytiga recently. All failed eventually. Doctor said Docetaxal is all that is left in the bag. I started last week.

Now the problem. My wife is Canadian, I am a USA citizen. We had planned to move to Canada soon. We sold, just recently, both of our houses in the states and bought a downsize condo in Canada. However, then the border was closed.

We are staying in our house we already sold by the grace of the buyers, but they will need it very soon and we will have to leave.

How can I move to Canada and then cross the border for treatments? The plan was to live in Canada, get my PR and when I get 3 months in I could get on Canadian medical. However now Canada is not even taking applications.

We are doing all of this also under the cloud of COVID 19.

Yeah. We are stressed. Does anyone know who we should call or contact?

[ctarleton]

You might confer with real estate professionals on both sides of the border. Perhaps you could rent out the condo in Canada and use some of the proceeds to offset another temporary rental for yourselves in the USA ? Traveling while on chemo and with a potentially weakened immune system in these times of COVID-19 might not be a good idea, anyway. After things settle down, the various international relocation, insurance, applications situations might open up, too?

Good Luck.

[dpowellnt in reply to ctarleton]

Renting makes me nervous because of CV. What I would like to do is go to our new house across the border and only come back for the chemo. I think it is safe in the car (windows up).

But with all that is happening, and the border closing, I am just trying to find who to call on both sides.

[jmurgia in reply to dpowellnt]

Try calling your congressperson's office.

[novatimo]

If I'm not mistaken, you can probably enter Canada without problem since your wife is Canadian, and as an American you are permitted to remain up to six months, at which point you return to the U.S. for a day or two, then possibly return to Canada. Perhaps within the initial six months of your stay Immigration Canada might re-open PR applications. I'm not an immigration attorney, so you should check with one first.

[Hidden]

Do you know the definition of non-essential travel? There is a restricted non-essential travel at the land borders with Canada. Doesn’t mean that the borders are closed completely.

GD

[DavidDundas]

Hi, your position sounds pretty dire, however from what you say, you clearly need quick action where you are. You are in the USA so my judgment is to get treatment where you are. Technology to treat advanced prostate cancer (which I have) is advancing fast. The one that you didn't mention is Lutetium 177 PSMA in which the Prostate Specific Antigen Membrane is used to guide the radioactive Lu 177 to each cance cell a kill it with radiation. This is an expensive procedure that does work, providing that your cancer cells respond to the PSMA which is first checked with a Ga68 PSMA PET scan. While you are arranging the treatment, you need to stop the growth of cancer cells with a hormone therapy such as Bicalutamide

[BerkshireBear]

I would wonder if you could arrange a consult between your US doctor and a colleague in Canada with the goal of transferring your treatment regime to Canada entirely as soon as possible. If attaining permanent residency and getting on to the health system takes 3-6 months that isn't very long in terms of a treatment plan, So given a solid plan acknowledged by doctors on both ends you might be more convincing when you approach the border. I certainly wouldn't make any firm decisions until you have talked to Customs/Immigration on both sides and have their agreement and understanding of your plan. Short of some sort of official sign-off from them I personally would stay in the US in some alternate lodging until some normalcy returns. BTW, commuting for chemo by driving alone is probably not wise, you should make sure that your wife is included in any plan so that she can drive as necessary on the trips.

[lavis]

My son lives in Mexico.

He requires medical treatment from the VA

He is a US Citizen and has no problem crossing the border for his medical appointments.

Good luck!

[med4]

I have been on Xtandi for a year and a half with very positive results.

Original dose was 4-40mg caps, but had to cut in half to 2-40 mg caps

because it caused extreme fatigue. Otherwise, I am very pleased.

PSA is below 1.0. Good luck to you!

[RonnyBaby]

IF you are symptom free (Covid-19), I would assume that the 'normal' channels of immigration / Citizenship would be sufficient to get into the country, BUT the virus has completely dominated life in Canada today, as we know it.

I'm Canadian and my treatments and monitoring appointments have ALL been cancelled - to be rescheduled at a later date. This has happened to every cancer patient in the country - doesn't matter what type.

Unfortunately, the timing couldn't be worse. You should contact an immigration lawyer in my opinion. You might also consider THE member of Parliament in the jurisdiction in where you plan to live.

Either way, I doubt that you will get the timely treatment(s) you were hoping for, unless your particular situation is life threatening.

This is the public messaging we have received from the politicians.

Wishing you the best in these difficult times ......

[j-o-h-n]

Call the US State Department....... Hopefully someone will answer the phone.... but don't bet your new Condominium on it..

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 03/29/2020 5:29 PM DST