On 5/3/2008
DebJr wrote:
Dear Ozy31,
Sorry to hear about your husband, but it sounds like he's doing pretty well, all things considered. My dad was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma this past November -- and is 77 also. He is Stage III with much bone involvement/damage, but about six months into this now, happy to say he is doing much better.
I am so glad you just mentioned that about Revlamid and the Veterans Association. My dad was a vet long ago and i was just recently looking into getting him additional coverage thru them as a back up, i have the applications almost filled out and am rounding up the required paperwork, etc. (i was worried about him being turned down at first, because i read in the booklet that for the past few years, due to high demand/so many vets, they can no longer take anyone that is in the lower categories -- but he has two purple hearts, so i think that is going to be his saving grace). Anyway, his treatment is currently Velcade - he is just starting his 4th cycle/round of it, and thankfully, the cancer is still responding to it.
However, i have been worrying about the time when one day he may go on maintenance, or when the myeloma comes active again, and he might have to go on Revlamid or one of the other crazy-expensive medicines -- which are completely unaffordable for him even with his medical insurance/coverage... but i'm so glad to hear you say that the Vet Assoc. is covering his Revlamid. Do you know if they completely cover it, or does he pay a large co-pay, etc? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you & best of luck!
Hi Deb Jr.
Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you. Because my husband
has been on the VA program for about 5 years, we called from Mayo and they said they would cooperate with VA. Revlimid costs the gov about
$8,000.00 per month but we get it for the usual $8.00/month. So far we
have not seen any bills for it. The dexamethasone is also $8.00/mo. I am sure if your dad has purple hearts and that means he was in combat, you will not have any trouble getting him on the VA health program. We have to go once a month to the nearest facility that is allowed to dispense this new drug, as I understand it, the clinics are not allowed to dispense it yet. It is rather dangerous for pregnant women so there is a lot of precaution taken to make sure it is not exposed to pregnant women which is not a concern for us or your dad but it could be for a younger man. There are some side effects but not as many as I thought, just some fatigue which is normal for this drug, The dexamethasone make him hyper on the days he takes that and also make his sugar levels go up, he is a diabetic also. Good luck finding and getting approved for this drug if necessary, our VA doctor says they are hoping this drug is a home run for people with multple myeloma.
Doing great so far
ozy31
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