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I am trying to help my sister who has a glioblastoma brain tumor. She had surgery to remove one in Dec. 2007. She was treated with tamadar. Almost one year to the date, another tumor returned. Now, her options are treatment with CPT11 and Avastin. The financial adviser at the oncologist office said the insurance company will probably deny these drugs as they are not FDA approved but the best treatment for this type cancer.

She said after the insurance denies, the drug manufacturers will give the drug free. They have insurance, both retired but sister is not old enough for Medicare. They have a farm and home and have been wise with their money all their lives.

 Still, the cost of each treatment, which will be two a month, is around $10,000. She is hesitant to seek the treatment for fear of building up a large bill her husband will have to pay. She said the cost compared to the short time it will buy is not worth it.

 Any ideas? Anyone else been through this?

Ruby

On 1/9/2009 ruby_fay wrote:

I am trying to help my sister who has a glioblastoma brain tumor. She had surgery to remove one in Dec. 2007. She was treated with tamadar. Almost one year to the date, another tumor returned. Now, her options are treatment with CPT11 and Avastin. The financial adviser at the oncologist office said the insurance company will probably deny these drugs as they are not FDA approved but the best treatment for this type cancer.

She said after the insurance denies, the drug manufacturers will give the drug free. They have insurance, both retired but sister is not old enough for Medicare. They have a farm and home and have been wise with their money all their lives.

 Still, the cost of each treatment, which will be two a month, is around $10,000. She is hesitant to seek the treatment for fear of building up a large bill her husband will have to pay. She said the cost compared to the short time it will buy is not worth it.

 Any ideas? Anyone else been through this?

 

Ruby

Ruby I wantd to see if your sister followed up with treatment? My usband can't pay for the avastin and he does get it for nothing from the company, I pra things are OK.

Linda Kaye

On 5/21/2009 Lindyb wrote:

 

On 1/9/2009 ruby_fay wrote:

I am trying to help my sister who has a glioblastoma brain tumor. She had surgery to remove one in Dec. 2007. She was treated with tamadar. Almost one year to the date, another tumor returned. Now, her options are treatment with CPT11 and Avastin. The financial adviser at the oncologist office said the insurance company will probably deny these drugs as they are not FDA approved but the best treatment for this type cancer.

She said after the insurance denies, the drug manufacturers will give the drug free. They have insurance, both retired but sister is not old enough for Medicare. They have a farm and home and have been wise with their money all their lives.

 Still, the cost of each treatment, which will be two a month, is around $10,000. She is hesitant to seek the treatment for fear of building up a large bill her husband will have to pay. She said the cost compared to the short time it will buy is not worth it.

 Any ideas? Anyone else been through this?

 

Ruby

Ruby I wantd to see if your sister followed up with treatment? My usband can't pay for the avastin and he does get it for nothing from the company, I pra things are OK.

Linda Kaye

Ruby I am glad your sister is getting the treatment I did find this http://www.avastin.com/avastin/patient/crc/reimbursement/ind
So if Avastin isn't approved and the insurance won't pay, the company does pay for it.. Our insurance is maxed out, his lifetime anyway so insurance is a 70% we pay 30% which we couln't do so Gentch is set up to give Avastin to people who can not pay for it .  It is an excellent drug I hear ,,it is supposed to stop cancer cells from forming a blood supply. My husband is stage IV colon cancer he was on all chemo until April when his tumor markers went down,  they are using just the Avastin and it is working well for him,, keeping hm stable.  I do hope all is well with you and your sister.