Procrit

[Guest guest]

CML SUPPORT AND INFORMATIONDear ,

My heart started racing when I began reading your note, then I saw that you

were paying for the Procrit. Yes, I am aware that I can get a script for it,

but the cost is prohibitive. How much do you actually pay for one injection? I

use Sterling Drugs and I'm sure they would have it in their formulary, too, but

it's the cost. You had to pay a lot before getting to catastrophic. I posted

an article about the dangers of Procrit and Aranesp. Here is what it said:

" article about an FDA probe into the deaths of some patients who took this drug

and died as a result. " Getting transfusions are such a drag, but I do feel

better for only a few days. The Procrit used to last a week. Thanks for

writing, maybe there are some in the group who are on Medicare and would be

interested in still getting Procrit if they are willing to pay for it. Because

Bobby's new trial is an infusion, she can still get it at the hospital. They

used to give me the shot when my Hgb fell below 9 and the same goes for the

transfusions.

Blessings,

Lottie

[ ] Digest Number 1545

CML SUPPORT AND INFORMATION

Messages In This Digest (17 Messages)

1a. A Day of Change From: Bob

1b. Re: A Day of Change From: ROBERTA DOYLE

1c. Re: A Day of Change From: Barb Stanley

2a. doctor's visit From: jillannt

2b. Re: doctor's visit From: Tracey

3. Re: A Day of Change - Bob From: seloew12

4a. Heart and eye problems From: Cogan

5. No funding for NIH From: Lottie Duthu

6. Procrit news From: Lottie Duthu

7. Navigating the Payment Maze From: Lottie Duthu

8a. Breast cancer survivorship 101 From: Lottie Duthu

8b. Re: Breast cancer survivorship 101 From: Rosen Lum

9. Vertigo input? From: Barb Stanley

10. Jeanie From: Barb Stanley

11a. Re: Jeanie not doing good on Tasigna From: Jeanie Blanton

11b. Re: Jeanie not doing good on Tasigna From: Sharon & Denny

12a. Re: New member, Jeanie From: Jeanie Blanton

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1a. A Day of Change

Posted by: " Bob " bob-stewart@... bob1234stewart

Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:42 pm (PDT)

Today (9/26) is my 22nd anniversary of my " pretty good " heart attack.

" Pretty good " is the term the cardiologist used. I think it was good for his

pocketbook.

Back in 1986 I was a heavy smoker and when the heart attack symptoms hit me

I thought it was a sudden onset of lung cancer and, quite frankly, was afraid to

tell anyone about it. So, I waited around for about two and a half hours having

the chest tightness, sweating, pains in my jaw and neck, and the like, thinking

that it would either go away or I would keel over dead. Neither happened

(obviously) and I finally went to the doc's office where he did an EKG on me,

stuck me in an ambulance, and off I went.

The only reason I report this is that I'm quite sure that others out there

have had symptoms of a heart problem and ignored them. Not a smart thing to do.

Had I got in right away I probably wouldn't have had heart surgery, atrial

fibrillations, a pacemaker, and a general change in life.

Of course, I would have kept on smoking and would have eventually died of

lung cancer.

Bob , Granger, Indiana

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

My heart started racing when I began reading your note, then I saw that you

were paying for the Procrit. Yes, I am aware that I can get a script for

it, but the cost is prohibitive. How much do you actually pay for one

injection? I use Sterling Drugs and I'm sure they would have it in their

formulary, too, but it's the cost. You had to pay a lot before getting to

catastrophic. I posted an article about the dangers of Procrit and Aranesp.

Here is what it said: " article about an FDA probe into the deaths of some

patients who took this drug and died as a result. " Getting transfusions are

such a drag, but I do feel better for only a few days. The Procrit used to

last a week. Thanks for writing, maybe there are some in the group who are

on Medicare and would be interested in still getting Procrit if they are

willing to pay for it. Because Bobby's new trial is an infusion, she can

still get it at the hospital. They used to give me the shot when my Hgb

fell below 9 and the same goes for the transfusions.

Blessings,

Lottie

______________________

Hi Lottie,

I have the original Medicare Part B (not an HMO type) and also Medicare

Part D for drugs. So the formula for what they pay is the same for any of

the drug supplement policies, as long as they cover the Procrit.

During the first $2510 of drugs, I pay 25%.....they pay 75%.

During the coverage gap, I pay the full 100% but this ends when the total

paid out by me and the insurance company reaches $4050.

Then they pay 95% of the cost.

My Rx is for 2 vials a month and the cost is about $1165............so it

does not take too long before you get to them paying 95%. You can

actually see this calculation on the Medicare site.

I don't actually need 2 vails a month.....I use a vial about every 3 weeks

on average, so it stockpiles a bit. IF you need more than that, say a

weekly shot, you get to the catastrophic coverage much sooner.....and then

you are just paying 5%.

It was still much cheaper when I had my insurance from employment, when I

just paid a co-pay.

I did ask at my local oncs about having them give me the shot, but it is

much harder to get Medicare to pay that way (you need to drop below 10,

which is not good for me)................this is definitely an

expense....but I do not pay for my drug (in a trial, for another 2 years I

think)........Per Dr. Druker, I try to keep my hgb just at the low end of

normal (so about 12, depending on the lab).

Dr. Druker feels that Procrit is totally safe for a healthy cmler! he feels

that any deaths were because of other issues that they had (heart disease,

etc).

I will be heading out of town for 7-10 days....to celebrate you younger

sister's 60th birthday (she is only a little younger!!)......so I won't be

on the list for a while.

C.