Jan 02 2023

January 2, 2023

Published by at 6:45 pm under Uncategorized

This was a quiet holiday. My mom stayed home for Christmas as she is in a very similar battle as I am. We were thinking of visiting her out of state but I had to stay home due to Dr appts.

I visited my Breast Cancer Specialist in Pittsburgh on Dec 27th. She has recommended that in addition to the Xeloda pill that I have been prescribed by my regular main oncologist to add two other drugs. One being the Herceptin that I have been on most of 2022 but to take without the chemo molecule via infusion through my port, then another pill called TUKYSA® (tucatinib).

I went to my wound Dr on Friday, Dec 30th. My wound has been doing fairly well and closing up. It has been a long road. Part of the wound appeared to have a bubbled flap over it so the Dr had to cut it back to prevent infection and she cauterized it. The wound had been leaking pretty back for 7-10 days or so due to the flap and was leaking through to my jeans. It is still doing it as of today.

Wednesday, 1-4-23, I will see my cancer doctor to go over the new treatment plan and probably get blood work. So interestingly, after waiting two weeks for all the proper paperwork and shipment of the Xeloda pills to my home, I was able to start them on Dec 24th. The side possible effects for the first week, round one, did not seem noticeable.

As you go though the drug process, you learn a lot of things. All of my infusions and chemo have always been 100% covered by what ever insurance I have been on over the years. The Ibrance pills I was on in 2020 were also fully covered. What a blessing. The Xeloda, which has a generic was covered with a $120 copay (monthly). I had to be on two different dose pills so that became $240. The drug foundations ran out of money as it was the end of the year and that is a source of help no matter your income. There are other sources as well, some being income based.

I did not have time to research before getting these pills in my hands. It had been over two weeks and it was the holidays. So I just paid it. The financial department at my cancer office also told me about a local pharmacy called Blueberry Pharmacy. This pharmacy carries generic drugs. The prices are lower than my copay’s. This can be helpful for people even if they don’t have cancer. I think my one out of pocket is going to be about $25 instead of $120 via my insurance. This is amazing!!!! This is not income based. It is just his prices. He serves Ohio and PA and ships!!!

My concern is that the TUKYSA® (tucatinib) (retails – $18,000 to $24,000 per monthly supply) is not going to be able to be obtained from the Blueberry Pharmacy as it is newer and does not have a generic. I am curious how long it is going to take me to find out what my out of pocket is going to be on this. I am going to research this as soon as I can talk to my doctor on Wednesday. The foundation money should be filled up too as it is the beginning of the year. My mother is on a pill and her insurance copay for the drug is $3200.

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