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Joan M · 03-09-2011, 07:06 AM

Does anybody else have anything to add about these costs?

I'm heading to Albany, New York's state capitol, on March 15 for New York State Breast Cancer Education and Advocacy Day with several other women. I have 20-minute appointments with different legislators from the five boroughs of NYC to discuss two bills. One bill involves giving parity to oral and infused chemo drugs. Other states have similar legislation. For purposes of this legislation, oral chemo also includes endocrine drugs like Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. So any information on the cost of those drugs would also be useful. I asked about Tykerb and Xeloda because that affects all HER2+ metastatic survivors, and being metastatic I've been asked to present that case. But the issue also involves early stage patients, as there are an estimated 400 anti-cancer drugs in devlopment and 25% of them are planned as oral drugs.

While infused chemo is paid for by the medical portion of private insurance, oral chemo is covered by prescription plans and have hefty out-of-pocket expenses, and we need to change that.

Thanks.

Joan

03-09-2011, 07:06 AM	#3
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Cost of Tykerb and Xeloda Does anybody else have anything to add about these costs? I'm heading to Albany, New York's state capitol, on March 15 for New York State Breast Cancer Education and Advocacy Day with several other women. I have 20-minute appointments with different legislators from the five boroughs of NYC to discuss two bills. One bill involves giving parity to oral and infused chemo drugs. Other states have similar legislation. For purposes of this legislation, oral chemo also includes endocrine drugs like Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. So any information on the cost of those drugs would also be useful. I asked about Tykerb and Xeloda because that affects all HER2+ metastatic survivors, and being metastatic I've been asked to present that case. But the issue also involves early stage patients, as there are an estimated 400 anti-cancer drugs in devlopment and 25% of them are planned as oral drugs. While infused chemo is paid for by the medical portion of private insurance, oral chemo is covered by prescription plans and have hefty out-of-pocket expenses, and we need to change that. Thanks. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!! Last edited by Joan M; 03-09-2011 at 07:16 AM..