OK, I will now share something that I have not shared with many folks here, but now the subject has come around to something that is near to my heart.
In 2007, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow that is treatable but not yet curable. Thanks to aggressive treatment, I had been in what passes for remission for almost 7 years. The cancer started to wake up again several months ago, and I began another round of oral chemotherapy.
There are two drugs in the protocol. One is dexamethasone, a steroid, and it costs me $2 per prescription (and as a bonus, I am totally wired for a day or two after I take it).
The chemotherapy drug is Revlimid, a drug manufactured by Celgene. Since it is an oral chemo rather than IV, it is not covered by my medical plans.
A one month supply of Revlimid consists of 21 pills.
The retail cost of that prescription is $15,200.41, and I have the documentation to prove it. Look at that number. For 21 pills. Every. Single. Month. The 41 cents is almost an insult.
I am lucky to have an oncology group that includes a patient assistance department. They were able to find grants, including through Celgene, that have reduced my out-of-pocket cost to $25/mo through the end of this year.
I don't know what happens after the end of this year - I imagine we go scrambling to find another grant or two to help me pay for this treatment if we can. If we can't - game over?
I don't agree that the cancer treatment centers are about the money - in my experience, they are about the patients and are just as upset about the high cost of drugs. Whether national healthcare will work or not is a question for JP - I can only tell you what I see from being in the middle of this, and wondering what's going to happen to me when the money runs out. |
