I win.
As it turns out, the medical team at the University of Chicago was able to appeal my insurance's original decision to deny coverage for Gleevec. Scroll down to see the backstory in my original post about this. After convincing them that this could possibly have some success in treating GVHD, they decided to give us the go-ahead, which is great news because this drug is very expensive and not even available at certain pharmacies. It has to be mail ordered, which I'm not thrilled about...but we'll give it a fair shake. Something about being able to talk to a pharmacist when you want to know more about side effects seems a lot more personal than a getting a bag full of drugs in a mailbox. You need SS numbers, addresses, ID numbers, and the names of your first born children to hand over before anyone will prescribe you any drug....but we're okay with it sitting in a mailbox for hours till I get it? Mm-k. And they say I'm goofy.
In any case, Gleevec has been approved, and we're waiting for it to arrive. All is right in our world today, thanks to the efforts of UCH. Great job to Dr. Artz, Linda and Lisa! You guys rock.
My wife is still doing the Snoopy Happy Dance.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Gleevec
In the last year, researchers and trial participants of treatment for Leukemia have discovered something that might help in battling GVHD over time. (Graft vs Host Disease). In the event of a person having a bone marrow transplant, like myself, their new stem cells can often times wage war against what's left of your old immune system, causing all sorts of problems. To this day, it's why I remain on Prednisone (steroid) to suppress those problems. (i.e., skin tightness, energy levels, flexibility, eye problems, etc).
During treatment for Leukemia, a person having the Philadelphia chromosome would have a drug called Gleevec added to their regimen. I did not have the chromosome, so I was never prescribed the drug. But in their research, trials have found that in addition to helping treat Leukemia, the drug also helps combat GVHD. As a result, my doctors want me try it and see how things go. In the last few weeks, also under the direction of my doctors, I have stopped taking Prograf. (Another immune suppressing drug.)
The downside is that the drug is incredibly expensive. (Around $4000USD for a 3 month supply). We're battling it out with our insurance now to get it approved, but so far it hasn't been a fruitful effort. They don't want to cover it because I don't have the chromosome and it's not considered a standard treatment for GVHD.
More to come as we find out more.
During treatment for Leukemia, a person having the Philadelphia chromosome would have a drug called Gleevec added to their regimen. I did not have the chromosome, so I was never prescribed the drug. But in their research, trials have found that in addition to helping treat Leukemia, the drug also helps combat GVHD. As a result, my doctors want me try it and see how things go. In the last few weeks, also under the direction of my doctors, I have stopped taking Prograf. (Another immune suppressing drug.)
The downside is that the drug is incredibly expensive. (Around $4000USD for a 3 month supply). We're battling it out with our insurance now to get it approved, but so far it hasn't been a fruitful effort. They don't want to cover it because I don't have the chromosome and it's not considered a standard treatment for GVHD.
More to come as we find out more.
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
Gleevec Part II
I win.
As it turns out, the medical team at the University of Chicago was able to appeal my insurance's original decision to deny coverage for Gleevec. Scroll down to see the backstory in my original post about this. After convincing them that this could possibly have some success in treating GVHD, they decided to give us the go-ahead, which is great news because this drug is very expensive and not even available at certain pharmacies. It has to be mail ordered, which I'm not thrilled about...but we'll give it a fair shake. Something about being able to talk to a pharmacist when you want to know more about side effects seems a lot more personal than a getting a bag full of drugs in a mailbox. You need SS numbers, addresses, ID numbers, and the names of your first born children to hand over before anyone will prescribe you any drug....but we're okay with it sitting in a mailbox for hours till I get it? Mm-k. And they say I'm goofy.
In any case, Gleevec has been approved, and we're waiting for it to arrive. All is right in our world today, thanks to the efforts of UCH. Great job to Dr. Artz, Linda and Lisa! You guys rock.
My wife is still doing the Snoopy Happy Dance.
As it turns out, the medical team at the University of Chicago was able to appeal my insurance's original decision to deny coverage for Gleevec. Scroll down to see the backstory in my original post about this. After convincing them that this could possibly have some success in treating GVHD, they decided to give us the go-ahead, which is great news because this drug is very expensive and not even available at certain pharmacies. It has to be mail ordered, which I'm not thrilled about...but we'll give it a fair shake. Something about being able to talk to a pharmacist when you want to know more about side effects seems a lot more personal than a getting a bag full of drugs in a mailbox. You need SS numbers, addresses, ID numbers, and the names of your first born children to hand over before anyone will prescribe you any drug....but we're okay with it sitting in a mailbox for hours till I get it? Mm-k. And they say I'm goofy.
In any case, Gleevec has been approved, and we're waiting for it to arrive. All is right in our world today, thanks to the efforts of UCH. Great job to Dr. Artz, Linda and Lisa! You guys rock.
My wife is still doing the Snoopy Happy Dance.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Gleevec
In the last year, researchers and trial participants of treatment for Leukemia have discovered something that might help in battling GVHD over time. (Graft vs Host Disease). In the event of a person having a bone marrow transplant, like myself, their new stem cells can often times wage war against what's left of your old immune system, causing all sorts of problems. To this day, it's why I remain on Prednisone (steroid) to suppress those problems. (i.e., skin tightness, energy levels, flexibility, eye problems, etc).
During treatment for Leukemia, a person having the Philadelphia chromosome would have a drug called Gleevec added to their regimen. I did not have the chromosome, so I was never prescribed the drug. But in their research, trials have found that in addition to helping treat Leukemia, the drug also helps combat GVHD. As a result, my doctors want me try it and see how things go. In the last few weeks, also under the direction of my doctors, I have stopped taking Prograf. (Another immune suppressing drug.)
The downside is that the drug is incredibly expensive. (Around $4000USD for a 3 month supply). We're battling it out with our insurance now to get it approved, but so far it hasn't been a fruitful effort. They don't want to cover it because I don't have the chromosome and it's not considered a standard treatment for GVHD.
More to come as we find out more.
During treatment for Leukemia, a person having the Philadelphia chromosome would have a drug called Gleevec added to their regimen. I did not have the chromosome, so I was never prescribed the drug. But in their research, trials have found that in addition to helping treat Leukemia, the drug also helps combat GVHD. As a result, my doctors want me try it and see how things go. In the last few weeks, also under the direction of my doctors, I have stopped taking Prograf. (Another immune suppressing drug.)
The downside is that the drug is incredibly expensive. (Around $4000USD for a 3 month supply). We're battling it out with our insurance now to get it approved, but so far it hasn't been a fruitful effort. They don't want to cover it because I don't have the chromosome and it's not considered a standard treatment for GVHD.
More to come as we find out more.
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