Thread: aranesp
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Old 03-09-2007, 07:11 AM   #2
margo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 30
Aranesp

I had a similar problem with my insurance company and cancer center. I am 2 years post-TCH and continuing on Herceptin weekly. My bone marrow does not make enough RBC's (or WBC's for that matter). I require Aranesp shots every 3 - 4 weeks, which is more expensive every year.

After speaking with my insurance company, the problem was that the cancer center was not coding the Aranesp injection correctly. The shot must be given at the same time as my weekly visit to Outpatient Chemo for Herceptin (which was the only time I was receiving the shot!).

The cancer center billing office was coding Aranesp as a separate treatment, so there was no insurance coverage. It has taken 10 months of many telephone calls to straighten out my billing.

Best Wishes,
__________________
Margo

Diagnosed 08/2004 @ 45; Metaplastic Breast Cancer (MpBC)
Stage IV, HER2 3+, ER-/PR-, Met to Liver

08/2004 - Neo-adjuvant Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin (TCH) - 4 rounds.
09/2004 -
Herceptin - Weekly.
11/2004 - Liver RFA, followed w/TCH - 2 rounds.
12/2004 - Lumpectomy, axillary node dissection, followed w/TCH - 2 rounds.
05/2005 - Radiation - Breast, shoulder, neck (left side) - 35X
09/2005 - Developed severe osteoporosis - Boniva - monthly
04/2008 - Herceptin - Every 3 weeks (changed from weekly).
05/2012 - Mets: 3 new liver and 2 lymph nodes.
06/2012 - Start 16 rounds Navelbine and Herceptin weekly.
11/2012 - Liver resection, RFAs (8), lymphadenectomy (2), cholecystectomy.
12/2012 - Herceptin and Letrozole.
05/2014 - Mets: 5 aortocaval nodes & 1 mesenteric.
06/2014 - Herceptin/Perjeta/Taxotere - 6 rounds.
10/2014 - Herceptin / Perjeta - Open ended
04/2015 - Progression: Porta hepatic node, 2 aortocaval nodes.
05/2015 - Exploratory surgery treating progression, 12 nodes removed.
07/2015 - Restart Herceptin / Perjeta
01/2016 - Progression 8 nodes.
02/2016 - Starting T-DM1 (Kadcyla) - Open ended.
07/2017 - Progression.
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