Michael Lewis Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 After more than three years waiting for the "other shoe to drop" I began chemo with Alimta yesterday. My cancer is growing, albeit slowly, and I'm experiencing pain which is pretty well controlled with morphine and vicodin. Since I was largely asymtomatic since being diagnosed in Jan, 2004, I'm grateful for the slow growth of the disease and the wonderful time with family and friends. In fact, to date, the worst troubles have come first from surgery in 2004 and chemo in 2005. Recovery from the surgery was/is a long process and I attribute troubles with Cisplatin/Gemcitabine chemo mostly to the massive steroids received. I have to say that I experienced some anticipatory nausea when entering the chemo floor for the first time in nearly three years, but the infusion went well and I returned home tired and very hungry. Today, I feel well and will resume normal activities. I have read many negative comments on side effects with this drug, but so far, am experiencing none. Now we wait for future test results and scans. I understand how the drug works, and look forward to good results. I do understand that it's a very expensive item, but Medicare does cover. Does anyone know what treatment with this drug actually costs? I will update if I experience side effects, but, so far, so good! Michael Lewis Seattle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Michael- I am glad you tolerated your first treatment of Alimta. I hope it continues to go well for you. Ask for a break if it gets to be too much-- keep us posted on how it goes. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 First of all to the important things......CONGRATS on becoming a grandfather. Waiting for that arrival will keep you focused and in fighting mode for sure. Next ~ I'm sorry that you've heard the 'other shoe' drop, but ya know what we do now???? We pick BOTH of them up, put them back on our feet and forge ahead. Good luck with the tx. It's been known to beat back the LC in many, many cases. Please keep us updated as you move forward. Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recce101 Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Hi, Michael: Happy things are going well with the Alimta so far. That drug is probably in the future for a lot of us, so I hope you'll keep those updates coming! I don't know what Alimta costs. Do you think it could be more expensive than Avastin? According to my quarterly Medicare summaries, the "Amount Charged" for each dose of Avastin (not counting the saline and infusion charges) was $10080, reduced to a "Medicare Approved" $6825. Of that figure, Medicare paid 80% and Tricare for Life (military retiree) paid the remaining 20%. Multiply that by 18 treatments and the total is getting up there. The second most expensive item was the Neulasta injection, which I had 6 times for $3656 ($2164) per shot. So I guess we're getting our money's worth. Aloha, Ned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welthy Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 The amount submitted to Medicare for Alimta (21 day cycle) was $25,000 each treatment + add-ons for the other stuff they give you. I hope you have great success and good supplemental insurance. Welthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j ross Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Just to say that Barry had really good results with alimta, it pushed the cancer back for quite a long time. Jennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Michael, That's the way to go. Hope the rest of the treatment are easy on you. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patti B Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Michael - I have been on Alimta for 7 cycles now and have been stable!! The cost for me from the Cleveland Clinic was $19,000+ per infusion plus the cost of the saline, the room, etc. My insurance pays 100% after I pay the first $1000.00 in the beginning of the year. Hope you have lots of success on Alimta. It does cause fatigue and SOB, but mine has been tolerable. Doc says it can be used like Avastin, as a maintenance chemo. Good luck - keep us posted. Patti B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Michael, I hope the Alimta gives you great results. Keep us posted. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerri Gottlieb Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Holy cow! $25K and $19K! My dad just told me Sloane Kettering charges my mom's insurance GHI $7800 for her Alimta treatments. I wonder why all the difference in the pricing. But it's working and her insurance pays 100% so I have no complaints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LovesLife Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Micheal - hope all is still going well with your treatments. Kerri - so happy to read the great results on your mom - WOO HOO! Give her my best - I have wondered how she is doing. Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaroleHammett Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Michael: Sorry your cancer is growing (I'm in same boat so I know how you feel) but it sure looks like you're going to make it to first goal (birth of grandchild) and then you can set a new goal (speaking from experience) and next thing I knew, well, I was just too busy to die! Seriously though, I do hope that the Alimta works for you, and in the meantime am wondering what kind of lung cancer do you have? (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, BAC, large cell, mesothelioma, etc.) Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraL Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hi Michael. So nice to hear how well you have done for so long. I just started Alitma last week. It wasn't so bad I don't think. I ditched the anti-nausea stuff pretty quick because I found that harder to get off of during 1st line chemo. I believe first treatment caused me some fever, fatigue/groggy and possibly SOB. But overall way less trouble than first line treatments. So I hope it just continues that way. The price tag was on the bag and my chemo nurse told me it was $3,000. So that would just be the cost of the drug. And that's in our valuable Canadian $'s of course! So all these other high quotes here include all the other stuff in supporting that chemo visit...those appear to really add up! I wish you continued good health and happiness Sandra-from across the water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaroleHammett Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 I, too, am on Medicare (through Kaiser's Medicare Advantage program) and just checked my most recent statement of account, which shows that Kaiser was charged $7025.48 for my first infusion. It also shows that my copay was $684.63. but I was told the day of the infusion that I am to contact oncology rep re this as it will be adjusted downward drastically (I can't recall amount of adjustment or reason for adjustment, but will post info here as soon as I've contacted them). I, too, don't understand the reason for the varying costs (other than Canada's ) since we have all been having the same 10 mg. injection. All that is clear to me at this point is that once again the pharmaceuticals win (except in Canada where the government negotiates price ceilings, which we ought to be doing here in the US also if our politicians weren't bought and paid for!!). Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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