Well after a lengthy 3-way call with General Motors and our Health Care insurance provider this morning, they flat out told me NO, they do not cover the Avastin drug for use in brain cancer. I feel as if the doors are all beginning to close around me now. Seems to be no escape from the enevitable it seems.
.......................................... . . .
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sept 24 2012
So as my body was already telling me, my Oncologist confirmed today that newest chemotherapy they put me on is not working. My latest MRI taken last Tuesday showed growth in the tumour. With that being said, he has taken me off the chemo and I start planning my next course of action.
Exactly.....what is my next plan!!?? Well there is a drug out there that MAY work for a period of around 6 months to a year called Avastin. Downside to it is the fact that is only covered in British Columbia for use on Brain Cancer folks and not the rest of Canada. For those of us in good ole Ontario, that means it will cost between $8000 and $15000 per month out of pocket if your private insurance company does not cover it either. My Oncologist forewarned me that the majority will NOT cover it because testing shows that the lack of longevity it provides does not make financial sense.
More downsides are that since this type of chemo attacks the blood vessels of the tumour, my Oncologist has witnessed patients dying from complications such as developing a bleed on the brain due to burst blood vessels. Not to mention heart failure as well as a number of other serious side effects.
So over the next few days I obviously have some serious thinking to do as well as investigating the pros and cons of this drug. Oh, and then there is the issue of whether or not my private insurance will even cover it. ( I seriously have my doubts ) For the insurance company, it will all be about making a business decision based on that whole "longevity "issue. After all, they have our gov't standing behind them on this one.
Anyways, things don't seem too rosy right now so I will close this off and maybe continue it another day when I have thought things through a bit more and hopefully have some answers.
Funny thing is...........For the past couple of years, I've told myself I will probably only see the 5 year mark. Hmmmm...this coming January IS 5 years.
Til next time
Ed
Exactly.....what is my next plan!!?? Well there is a drug out there that MAY work for a period of around 6 months to a year called Avastin. Downside to it is the fact that is only covered in British Columbia for use on Brain Cancer folks and not the rest of Canada. For those of us in good ole Ontario, that means it will cost between $8000 and $15000 per month out of pocket if your private insurance company does not cover it either. My Oncologist forewarned me that the majority will NOT cover it because testing shows that the lack of longevity it provides does not make financial sense.
More downsides are that since this type of chemo attacks the blood vessels of the tumour, my Oncologist has witnessed patients dying from complications such as developing a bleed on the brain due to burst blood vessels. Not to mention heart failure as well as a number of other serious side effects.
So over the next few days I obviously have some serious thinking to do as well as investigating the pros and cons of this drug. Oh, and then there is the issue of whether or not my private insurance will even cover it. ( I seriously have my doubts ) For the insurance company, it will all be about making a business decision based on that whole "longevity "issue. After all, they have our gov't standing behind them on this one.
Anyways, things don't seem too rosy right now so I will close this off and maybe continue it another day when I have thought things through a bit more and hopefully have some answers.
Funny thing is...........For the past couple of years, I've told myself I will probably only see the 5 year mark. Hmmmm...this coming January IS 5 years.
Til next time
Ed
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Sept 19 2012
Good EARLY morning:
Just a quick blog to let you know that I go for my first MRI today since being diagnosed with this latest tumour. Being as this new chemotherapy is kicking the heck out of me, I can only hope that it is doing the same to the tumour. I will not get the MRI results until a week from now so stay tuned I guess.
Sleep is still not my friend. I have tried almost every concoction out there with no luck as of yet. I guess the old saying is true.....you can sleep when you're dead. My blood counts are plummetting this week....platelet levels and white cell levels being the most affected.
I will update more next week after my Cancer Clinic appt in regards to results.
Take care
Ed
Just a quick blog to let you know that I go for my first MRI today since being diagnosed with this latest tumour. Being as this new chemotherapy is kicking the heck out of me, I can only hope that it is doing the same to the tumour. I will not get the MRI results until a week from now so stay tuned I guess.
Sleep is still not my friend. I have tried almost every concoction out there with no luck as of yet. I guess the old saying is true.....you can sleep when you're dead. My blood counts are plummetting this week....platelet levels and white cell levels being the most affected.
I will update more next week after my Cancer Clinic appt in regards to results.
Take care
Ed
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