Thinking of going to a free clinic. Need some advice.
 

OK here's the problem:
I'm broke, but I have a job. There is a possibility that I might have cancer, but there's no way for me to tell before I get a doctor to look at it and diagnose me. I live in California, and need to know what types of questions they ask if you go to a free clinic. Is there an income limit? In the end, do you need to compensate for the service? How is privacy affected? I just don't want to go in there and they say, "Sorry, you get paid too much." What information do I have to have prepared before I walk in there and request medical attention?

Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Once again any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

you have no medical insurance thru your employer? Can you get it?

I'm assuming you live in Los Angeles... Googling found this place:
http://losangelesmission.org/about/lamcc.html

It doesn't say anything about income requirements, however, if you are getting a service from them, and you are employed (and you are concerned about making too much money to be treated), if they do treat you, a donation would be in order. but not mandatory.

Confidentiality in clinics, I know refers to AIDS and HIV screenings and treatment, I'd imagine it would apply to all medical care as well.

The only time I have been to a clinic, was in NYC when I had to go for a TB screening before volunteering, and for an AIDS test before volunteering with babies. The AIDS test I as never asked my name, I was given a number. The TB test, I was asked to fill out a form, but never asked for identification so they dont know if the info was accurate

Thing is I'm a private contractor and the person who is supposed to sign my check has been on jury duty for quite some time. Thanks for the advice! :)

Why do you think that you have cancer?

Yes, what has led you to believe that you might have cancer? What are your symptoms? Have you had any tests done?

Once again I said "might." It's a bit personal, but in the past month, a lump has shown up, and after a few days, it got smaller, so I thought it was just a clogged gland or something that would go away. But it started to get big again, and now it's at a slow but steady growing pace, and is painful when irritated. There's no head to it so it's not a blackhead or a pimple.

I'll add that it's in an area where lumps are a scary sight to see. Let me just say that I've avoided women because of this occurrence.

Lumps can come from any number of causes, but it's a good idea to get it checked out.

No matter where you go, confidentiality is a federally mandated thing. There's a disgusting amount of laws about protecting health information and the like and it won't be compromised by going to a free clinic.

Thanks! I guess I'll just have to go on a day that I have time then. I've gone w/ my ex before when she got her first UTI, and it was a six-hour process. I wasn't in the room w/ her and her doctor so I didn't know what questions they asked.