YIKES! Tykerb/Xeloda STICKER SHOCK
 

YOWZE!!
The pharmacist tells me that my 1st month ofTykerb/Xeloda will cost $4807.67 out of pocket!!
Talk about sticker shock - I think I would have burst into tears upon hearing that had I not already read about the experiences of other folks on this Board.
Even the pharmacist had a sad/shocked look on his face when he told me the total amount. And he was very quick to mention that there are many programs out there to help with the cost, including one sponsored by the pharmacy, so he's already submitted the paperwork for me.And he encouraged me to get in touch with the social worker @ the cancer center to help me maneuver the process.
Talk about adding insult to injury!!

JML,

Most pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs to help with the cost of drugs:

Try the following websites:

XELODA:
http://www.rocheusa.com/programs/patientassist.asp
TYKERB:
http://www.tykerb.com/patient-resources/tykerb-cares.html
Needy Meds:
http://www.needymeds.com

Regards
Joe

Ask at your clinic if there is a pharmaceutical nurse advocate... the one at my clinic was a lifesaver when I was told the same thing by my pharmacy. GSK and Roche both have very helpful and very efficient assistance programs. We got mine applied for and approved in no time!

(cough, cough)

This is awful. Have you had any luck yet with the assistance programs?

Is this charge due to the fact that these are not IV chemo?

I am so sorry that you must go through this sh#t in addition to everything else.

Carolyn

oral meds are for convenience of usage for the patient. the drug companies can price the oral meds on a similar cost basis to IV meds and justify they are saving the patient time, travel, lost work etc.

its all about what costs the market is willing to bear.. if you had to go the MD to be infused.. everyone knows this takes half to all-day.. a lost day of work, childcare, etc.. but taking your meds at home allows you to maintain you "quality of life" at this stage of your life.

Thanks to Joe & everyone's guidance re:assitance programs to help pay for these meds. Even the pharmacist at the compounding pharmacy started an application for me through CVS/Caremark (?). Also, the social worker at the hospital has sent me the appropriate forms.
So, while we wait for approval, I paid, out of pocket, for a 1 week supply of Tykerb/Xeloda - ~$1400! Hopefully I'll get reimbursed for some/all of this amount and then the Rx assistance will kick in too.
From what I understand, PO drugs (by mouth) are covered under a different part of the insurance policy, so I have to meet a deductible for this service before my additional coverage kicks in. And, Tykerb is such a new drug - still very pricey.

I started my first dose of Tykerb last night at bed time, then my 1st dose of Xeloda this morning. It was a strange, strange feeling - taking those pills - especially the Xeloda. I felt myself get scared & kind of teary...strange. I still feel weird about leaving Herceptin & in the back of my mind, I imagine going back to it at some point...that's strange too!

Again, thanks to everyone here for the helpful hints. And here's to knocking the Monster out cold for a long, long, looonng time.

Keep the Faith~

Jessica

Think of Tykerb, with additional HER receptor blocking, as Herceptin plus. Down the hatch! Was there a reason given for leaving Herceptin out? Err..besides cost. Right now H & T are 2 of a handful of agents noted to kill cancer stem cells. Considering there is suggested benefit of continuing H after progression, seems like a couple rationales a doc could use to justify keeping H in the mix.

I left Herceptin to take Tykerb/Xeloda for 18 months when we discovered my brain mets. I had fantastic response on T/X. Then, last Sept when a few of my brain mets woke up, we switched me to Tykerb/Herceptin. And I have done well on it, too. You can always go back to Herceptin in another combination... don't worry too much about that.