HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Does Anyone Know Why We Are No Longer to Do Self Exams?

StephN · 11-25-2009, 11:27 AM

This post relates to cost and not the fact that I did do exams and did find my lump.

OK. I have to admit that MY stage IV cancer treatment has cost well over one million dollars. In fact, I hit my one million "lifetime" coverage with my health insurance mid-summer of 2007. Having to take a drug like Herceptin indefinitely (for as long as I live, was the prescription) costs a lot of money.

Treatment for my brain tumors and the aftereffects having two brain surgeries also cost a couple hundred thou.

I am no longer getting my vitamin H, in opposition to the "standard of care" for people like me who stay alive.

Herceptin does not cost $7,000 per treatment and more in other countries. I did not set the price, but am bound to run up the charges as long as it worked for me.

I toted up the costs during my first year of adjuvent treatment and it was a little over $100,000 in those days (no Herceptin). Anyone else keeping track of their bills and payments issued?

11-25-2009, 11:27 AM	#23
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Does Anyone Know Why We Are No Longer to Do Self Exams? This post relates to cost and not the fact that I did do exams and did find my lump. OK. I have to admit that MY stage IV cancer treatment has cost well over one million dollars. In fact, I hit my one million "lifetime" coverage with my health insurance mid-summer of 2007. Having to take a drug like Herceptin indefinitely (for as long as I live, was the prescription) costs a lot of money. Treatment for my brain tumors and the aftereffects having two brain surgeries also cost a couple hundred thou. I am no longer getting my vitamin H, in opposition to the "standard of care" for people like me who stay alive. Herceptin does not cost $7,000 per treatment and more in other countries. I did not set the price, but am bound to run up the charges as long as it worked for me. I toted up the costs during my first year of adjuvent treatment and it was a little over $100,000 in those days (no Herceptin). Anyone else keeping track of their bills and payments issued? __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.