Another Change For Me

[Sheila]

Well just like the insurance company to call the shots on chemo....my insurance company WOULD NOT approve Abraxane...just Taxol, so I will be getting Taxol Avastin with the Herceptin.....guess I need to get a wig after all. Start popping Decadron...my first treatment is Thursday for 5 hours for the 2. Wish me luck.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Oh Sheila, isn't it just like an insurance company to think they know best!

Well, maybe the rats are right and it's the nasty ol' Taxol that is needed to kill those cancer cells. That's what I'll be believing and praying for you. Is it time for new hair?

Here's to Thursday's treatment being a good adventure for you. May those dasterdly little cells beware. Lots of love to you, ma

[chrisy]

Well POOH! Any chance you can appeal this decision? I know you want/need to get started on treatment but the lower toxicity of Abraxane would certainly be welcome. We get very spoiled - as we should - by being able to live relatively free from side effects (at least compared to the sordid history and reputation of chemotherapy). Keeping you strong for the battle is so important.

However, I can see that you are ready to take on the fight, and you know that Taxol will do the job. I certainly wish you well, sister!

[doh2pa]

Hi Sheila,

Well, I'd like to think you were meant to get Taxol instead of Abraxane for this battle. I will keep a good thought, say a prayer, wish you luck and love and I know you will do well. You are an inspiration to us all. Keep us all posted.

Donna

[Patb]

Best of luck to you with your treatment. Don't we just love insurance companies.

patb

[jones7676]

Darn insurance companies.....I believe this will work for you, it is in the same family. Think of how nice and "cool" your head will be.
Good Luck

[Margerie]

Sheila,

It is such a shame the insurance companies can dictate treatment!! I remembered the taxol was realtively inexpensive, but abraxane isn't unfortunately.

http://uuhsc.utah.edu/pharmacy/bulletins/abraxane.html

I hope your triple combo does the trick!

[Lolly]

Well, I'm thinking it will be fine, so don't lose any sleep over it...btw, my hair is really, really thinning on Abraxane/Tykerb and I'm not sure which one is the culprit. Maybe both! Anyway, best wishes for Thursday, I know you can and will rise to the challenge!

<3 Lolly

[DonnaD]

Dear Sheila,
I have faith in your onc that this treatment is just as good. I only wish my treatment was the same day so we could keep each other company.

Got a great place to look at wigs, it is in Willowbrook. The gal that helped me had treatment at the same place we are several years ago.

You are in my prayers daily, I'll say an extra special one for you dear friend on Thursday.
Love,
Donna

[Chelee]

Shelia, I'm sorry to hear your insurance company stuck their nose where it doesn't belong. Its not right, yet it happens far to often! As mentioned by someone else...is there anyway you can appeal this or would it take too long? I know with my insurance company they have an expedited appeal if its needed asap. (They have 72 hrs if its expedited.) Either way...sending you positive thoughts & wishing nothing but the best for you.

Chelee

[rinaina]

Saying prayers for you and hoping you have an easy time with the treatments. Best of luck with this new approach.

[Mary Jo]

Hi Sheila,

Sending prayers that the Lord would protect your body from the nasty effects of chemo but He would allow the chemo to do it's job.

I'll keep you in my daily prayers Sheila.

Love & hugs,http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif

Mary Jo

[Adriana Mangus]

Dear Sheila: I have heard good things about Avastin in combination with Herceptin, guess if my current combo does not work that will be my next stop:)

I will be thinking of you this Thursday, hang in there sister, you can do it.

Sending you positive vibes and a BIG HUG.

[Jen]

It's sad that the treatment you receive is dictated by what your insurance will allow rather than what the doctor thinks is best. We need serious healthcare reform in this country and we need it NOW.

[tousled1]

Sheila,

Sorry that your insurance would not approve Abraxane. I'm hoping that the combo with Taxol will be the ticket. At least the insurance company didn't say you had to take Taxatore -- that's the worst! Good luck.

[sassy]

Sheila,

Wishing you the best as you start this treatment.
________
GLASS WEED PIPE (http://glasspipes.net/)

[Lala]

Shelia

I remember hearing my oncologist telling me how the insurance company may not pay for my abraxane. His thoughts were we will deal with it after we start you on abraxane. I recall he was prepared to write the insurance company on my behalf to fight for the drug using the current data showing it was necessary. I ended up taking abraxane carboplatin herceptin. My insurance did cover it in the end.

I am sorry you did not get the abraxane as you wanted but the addition of avastin is a good thing. I used avastin and herceptin with no chemo for 6 months and it shrank a few tumors. The combination of avastin and chemo has been proven to do very well for many.

I wish you the best good luck to you.

[RobinP]

I wish you all the blessings in the world with your new treatment. Keep your chin up...praying for you.

[MJo]

I agree with LaLa. Avastin is a good drug. It's doing amazing things for two people in my support group - one with stage 4 bc and one with pancreatic cancer. THe guy with PC was in hospice six months ago and he just came back from a vacation in the blue ridge mountains. He's wondering whether to leave hospice now. Hospice sure has changed. It's no longer one way only. Some people go in and out of hospice now. Amazing.

[Hopeful]

Sheila,

I urge you to file an appeal with your insurance company. The efficacy of Abraxane, aka nab-paclitaxel, is far superior to Taxol. Here is a link to an abstract of an article published a year ago on the matter: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/apl/eop/2006/00000007/00000008/art00006.

Here is an excerpt from that abstract:

"nab-Paclitaxel utilises the natural properties of albumin to reversibly bind paclitaxel, transport it across the endothelial cell and concentrate it in areas of tumour. The proposed mechanism of drug delivery involves, in part, glycoprotein 60-mediated endothelial cell transcytosis of paclitaxel-bound albumin and accumulation in the area of tumour by albumin binding to SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine). Clinical studies have shown that nab-paclitaxel is significantly more effective than paclitaxel formulated as Cremophor<SUP>®</SUP> EL (CrEL, Taxol<SUP>®</SUP>, CrEL-paclitaxel), with almost double the response rate, increased time to disease progression and increased survival in second-line patients. "


Here is a link to a download of Breast Cancer Update, vol. 2 2007, containing an interview with Frankie Ann Holmes, MD, Co-Director of Breast Oncology Research at Texas Oncology and US Oncology Breast Cancer Research in Houston, TX, discussing the use of Abraxane specifically at page 13: http://www.breastcancerupdate.com/bcu2007/2/default.asp

Wishing you all the best of luck with your treatment plan,

Hopeful

[Joy]

You should appeal because your doctor recommended this drug for good reasons and efficacy is a big one. I would talk to the doc again and see how he can help with a letter of medical necessity backed with research. Also if you have a nurse advocate within your insurance company or can find one if they have a program, and many do, for this. Then you have like a case manager who can talk to real individuals like medical directors, etc. who can say that this treatment can be approved.

I'm not trying to be a bossy boots, Sheila, so forgive me. I just want people to get treatment with drugs that have been developed for the sake of TREATING people. You are a fesity gal and I know you'll do what YOU need to do and I know that you will do just fine.

Hair loss stinks, I've done it 3 times. the only good part is that it is so exciting to get fresh new hair. Have your sense of humor about it and cry if you need to and come to us to just kvetch about it.

best wishes and losts of love headed your way!

[tricia keegan]

Sheila just wanted to wish you good luck for tomorrow and send lots of cyber hugs all the way to you! I hope the side effects are minimal and the treatments work their magic...hey why stop at the wig?? give your self a complete make over and have lots of retail therapy:)
(always works for me!)

[Becky]

Sheila

Taxol is the same active as Abraxane, just solubilized differently. It is still a great combo with Herceptin (and Avastin). Take tumeric (curcumin) or eat curry as it helps avert Taxol resistance and has proven syngergy with Taxol. It is not an antioxidant so it won't interfere.

I will be thinking of you dear friend.

Love and a hug

[Odette]

Dear Sheila,

Hugs and prayers are going your way,

Odette