Tarceva

 

On 4/18/2005 Drmort wrote:

My wife will be starting on Tarceva. Medicare doesn't seem to pay for it as it had for her previous chemo drugs. Has anyone had experience with getting Tarceva at a reduced cost?

I am on Medicare and have been on Tarceva for 2 mos. Medicaare pays for it under part B.  The pharmacy is Greater Sacremento Pharmacy and it is sent to me via FedEx.  your wife's Dr. must contact the pharmacy directly.

God bless and NEVER give up, Barb

My cancer has spread to NSCLC stage 4 brain/bones/other parts; have had more radiation and chemo.  Now the doctor recommends the tarceva, which I will receive by mail from PrecisionRX.

I am praying this puts a stop to the spread---I need more years to get my sons off into the world.

Are the side effects so awful that we want to give it up?

Thanks for all of the information.

My 87-year-old Mother was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC in July though she has never smoked nor has anyone in our family or anyone she worked with.  She has been taking Tarceva since mid-July.  There is no way she could have paid for this medication, nor could my sisters or I.  There is a drug foundation that pays for almost all the cost, based on one's income.  It comes to her door via MedfusionRX in Birmingham, AL.  Mother is doing well, feels better than she felt at diagnosis.  She  has had the rash, for which we are thankful since from all indications the rash means the Tarceva is working.  She has ocassional nausea but only one day of vomiting so far. Her apetite is not very good however so weight loss is a problem with her.  The doctor has said Tarceva is slow-acting so they will not do another petscan until November, wanting her to be on it longer than 3 months before testing and so Medicare will pay for the test.  Thank you all for your info via these messages.  It has been the best source of personal-use information for us all. May God bless each of you and your loved ones dealing with cancer.  He is the Great Physician!