 |
04-10-2007, 07:22 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Henderson, NE
Posts: 413
|
Tykerb: I'm getting closer
I just heard today my onc wrote a letter of necessity to my insurance comp. for tykerb. They are going to pay 80% of it. That sounds like alot, but i have to come up with 936$ a month myself. The drug is about 3600$ they said. I am in the process of calling some patient assistance programs that might pay my copay on it. If interested her is their names: HealthWellfoundation.org phone is 800-675-8416 patientaccessnetwork.org phone 866-316-7261 and patientadvocatefoundation.org phone 866-5123861
__________________
Michele Ulmer
dx: August 2003 stage 3b 35 pos nodes ER/PR neg Her+
4 AC 12 weekly taxol
one year Herceptin in trial
35 rad tx
vaccine trial Seattle
NED
|
|
|
|
04-10-2007, 07:26 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
|
Thanks Michele! I have a chemo buddy who will be very glad for the patient assistance numbers.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
|
|
|
|
|
04-10-2007, 07:48 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 492
|
Michelle,
How long are you planning to take Tykerb? Will you be taking it with herceptin or alone? Are you going to be doing echos?
Dang, I wish it wasn't so expensive. I was hoping it would be cheaper than herceptin since it is an oral drug.
__________________
Are we there yet?
Dx 10/05 IDC, multi-focal, triple +, 5 nodes+
MRM, 4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol + herceptin
rads concurrent with taxol/herceptin
finished herceptin 01/08
ooph, Arimidex, bilateral DIEP reconstruction
NED
Univ. of WA, Seattle vaccine trial '07
|
|
|
|
|
04-11-2007, 06:01 AM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
|
Good for you Michelle! You are a fighter and you will get it. Are you IBC? I see where you are stage 111b. I was told in Seattle, all stage 111b ers are IBC is this true? hugs, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
|
|
|
|
|
04-11-2007, 11:26 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 148
|
Michele,
DO u have a HMO or a PPO plan?
Regards,
Rupali
|
|
|
|
|
04-11-2007, 08:10 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Henderson, NE
Posts: 413
|
All,
no i'm not IBC. I don't know why they say all stage 3b is inflammatory. I've heard that too. I was staged like that due to all my nodes. I have a ppo. I'm probably going to take it 3 months. Mainly the cost and that the Herceptin trials showed the same results after 12 weeks.
__________________
Michele Ulmer
dx: August 2003 stage 3b 35 pos nodes ER/PR neg Her+
4 AC 12 weekly taxol
one year Herceptin in trial
35 rad tx
vaccine trial Seattle
NED
|
|
|
|
|
04-14-2007, 12:40 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Shaker Heights, Ohio
Posts: 86
|
Paying for Tykerb
Dear Michele,
thanks so much for posting the patient advocate info.
I'm worried that my Anthem PPO will not pay for Tykerb at all.
Their policy is to pay for a new drug only 6 months after it got approved. I just turned in my paperwork for it, my onc faxed it to Tykerb and am now waiting for the response.
Please keep us posted!
Love and prayers,
Odette
__________________
May 18, 2006 Age 52,
Diagnosed infiltrating ductal carcinoma
er/pr- HER2 + 3.9 by FISH
June-August 2006 AC chemo
August-October 2006 Taxotere + Herceptin
November 18, 2006 Mastectomy 16 involved lymph nodes
Jan 2, 2007 start radiation
Stage IV, Jan 12, 2007 recurrence in cervical lymph nodes while on Herceptin, stopped Herceptin
Rad oncologist extended the radiation field, good response
Started Tykerb Xeloda on beginning of May 2007
Progression to lungs and conglomerate lymphadenopathy July 2007
Undecided about next treatment
'One does not get to choose one's adventures'
I'm experimenting with my diet, using green tea, flax seed curry and olive oil
|
|
|
|
|
04-14-2007, 12:47 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
|
just wanted to wish you good luck with everything and hope all works out well with financial assistance. it is such a shame that we have to be dealing with this on top of our cancer but it is so common unfortunately.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
|
|
|
|
|
04-15-2007, 05:44 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
|
Dear Michele,
Just want to let you know I am wishing you the very best with you new treatment....will keep you in my prayers. Please keep us posted on your
progress.
Hugs,
jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:11 AM.
|
Linear Mode
