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Zometa infusions denied by ins.: To skip it or to pay?
My onc. discussed Dr. Michael Gnant's Australian study on zoledronic acid (zometa) and the benefits that came out of the study showing reduced events in bone mestatases when he spoke at ASCO.
My insurance will not pay it and at $2K ea. (just guessing here), it would be quite expensive. I know some of you get it for having osteopenia and osteoporosis, but my insurance company doesn't.
Then, this week there was an article in the "Los Angeles Times" that "Cancer risk is reported for bone drugs" with the subtitle: "A few dozen patients who take Fasamax, Actonel or Boniva have developed esophageal disease, an FDA official says."
I don't know if Zometa falls into this same bisphphonate category, but with everything there are pros and cons. I don't think I want to pay out-of-pocket as much as $12,000, especially with new warnings coming to light.
Any advice on this or can you share your current thinking on this topic?
Thanks,
Vicki
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Diagnosed 12/03 at age 53
1.5cm tumor, ER-PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
Stage 1B, Three negative nodes from Sentinel Node Biopsy
Paget's of the nipple, Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma and DCIS of the rt breast
Bloom-Richardson score 8/9, P53+ 60-70%, Ki-67+ 30-40%
Skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate lat-flap reconstruction and saline implants, 1/04
Chemo: FAC, five sessions every three weeks Feb.-May 04, then switched to HTC weekly for 12 weeks, June-Aug 04
Zometa every 6 months for osteopenia, started April 09
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