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Definitely TAKE THE HERCEPTIN...but try to keep costs to a bare minimum (I'm a struggling self-employed single mom with the disease with no help from either social security, medicare, or my ex..so yes, the money is a grave concern for me.) The oncology office bills about $7,000 per each 6mg/kg (I weigh nearly 200 lbs so I have to take quite a high dose...289 I think). The insurance settles with the onc office for a little over $3,000. Yet another incentive for ME TO LOSE WEIGHT..ha ha ha haaaaa, but I am also nearly 5 foot 10, so it is not horrible..just expensive...
I know it is not common place, yet, but you can use your own tumor markers as biofeedback to chart how much Herceptin you need and how frequently to take it with great benefit and at a fair price. Tell your onc to follow the Diabetic insulin model. Right now I am doing 6mg/kg every 6 weeks...this totals to only 8 or 9 doses a year, and costs less than $30G
Plus, there are many things you can also do like careful diet, certain supplements, walking, etc. that can keep you generally healthy so your OTHER medical expenses stay low. But no matter what the cost, GET TO THE HERCEPTIN as quickly as you can and find out as soon as you can exactly where your CA 27/29 and serum Her-2 markers are...not to be a doomsayer..but by now, given the time that has elapsed...it could already be raising its ugly head. This illness is something YOU REALLY have to stay on top of to survive, but you can "LIVE THE DREAM" I am still here, 8 years out, 6 with mets and use HERCEPTIN ALONE. Good luck to you, Gina.
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