Holy WOW, Batman!!!

allwildgirl

allwildgirl

Cathlete
My sister is currently undergoing chemotherapy and she's been having some issues with her white cell count not being high enough for them to administer the treatments. Consquently, they've decided to start her on a new drug called Neupogen (I think). It is administered by injection on the Sunday before her treatment is scheduled (which is every other Wednesday).

The cost of this lovely new drug, per injection....

THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS!!
 
allwildgirl said:
My sister is currently undergoing chemotherapy and she's been having some issues with her white cell count not being high enough for them to administer the treatments. Consquently, they've decided to start her on a new drug called Neupogen (I think). It is administered by injection on the Sunday before her treatment is scheduled (which is every other Wednesday).

The cost of this lovely new drug, per injection....

THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS!!
Click to expand...


Hey Shelley!! ((hugs)) Actually, Neupogen is not new, it's been around for at least 15 years (not trying to be a know it all ;) ). It's a good med to stimulate her WBC, but you are right $$$$:eek::eek:
 
Catherine - oh, I meant that it was a new drug for HER, not that it's a new drug :)

Laura - yup, that's one injection. So she'll have to have that every two weeks until her treatment is done. :eek:
 
Shee-ot girl...insurance covers this correct?

My DH's bro has to have shots that are the same price..he has MS.
 
Sad to say, I am not the least bit surprised about that (and the small print gargantuan sized tomes of evil scary side effects that come with the drugs). Some of the anti emetics out that are spendy whoppers too but they do their job. I'm sending your sis the super Beavs healing vibes...those are free and won't cause nausea ;)
 
I don't know how the drug companies sleep at night. When they know that what they make could help save people????
 
I can't say I can justify what pharma charges for their drugs but do know the resources and the approval process is pricey. There are a lot of PhDs working day and night on project teams, using expensive equipment, databases, journals, and other research tools, etc
 
Shelley, my thoughts and prayers are with you and Karen, and I hope she tolerates her chemo well. Keep us posted on how she's doing, please.
 
I also am not one to defend the drug companies, but I did want to point out that they also have to cover all of their costs for development and testing of failed drugs as well.

Wow, Shelley! Hope it does good things for your sister. (((Hugs))) to you, your sis, and your family. My DH has a cousin that was on a very expensive chemo drug (not sure if it was this one), and it worked quite well for him. Hope it does the same for your sis!
 
Michele - she's doing well so far, but she's had to miss a load of treatments because of the WBC problem. Hopefully this drug will get her back on track. The drugs they're using this time seem to be less hard on her than the last series of treatments she had, when she had her mastectomy. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They're appreciated more than you know.

I'm sending all my positive energy your way too, for all that you and your family are going through right now.
 
Thank you Shelley. Things a pretty tough right now and your good thoughts are a blessing and a comfort to me.
 
My heart goes out to you Shelly. My mother in law is having a port installed today so she can start her chemo next week.
As far as the drug companies. Yes, you have to love them for what they come up with. They do save people's lives but somehow I doubt that they are not making a heafty profit charging what they do. In other words I'm sure they come out okay when all is said and done.
My sis is a pharmacist and man some of the things she tells me just makes me mad. I just hope Shelly that your sis is able to get the treatment that she needs.
 
Shelley. it makes me sick to think of the cost of that drug.
I hope your sister is getting her needed meds and is on the road to recovery.

My DH owns a pharma company and you would not believe the amount of money that J&J and Wyeth and Astra Zenica etc WASTE everyday. My husband is building a plant in the US so these companies wikk stop flying people to Puerto Rico and Ireland and UK ( first class no less) to attend a meeting!!!! How about a conference call, email, computer vision??
SOME money goes toward research and development but A LOT goes into greedy pockets. SAD.

elliemom
 
I never realized that it costs so much :eek:! We give it out like candy on the oncology unit I work on!

I wish your sister well.. Tough tough tough thing to go through...

~Chris
 
elliemom said:
Shelley. it makes me sick to think of the cost of that drug.
I hope your sister is getting her needed meds and is on the road to recovery.

My DH owns a pharma company and you would not believe the amount of money that J&J and Wyeth and Astra Zenica etc WASTE everyday. My husband is building a plant in the US so these companies wikk stop flying people to Puerto Rico and Ireland and UK ( first class no less) to attend a meeting!!!! How about a conference call, email, computer vision??
SOME money goes toward research and development but A LOT goes into greedy pockets. SAD.

elliemom
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Hopefully, with our economic downturn, all companies who waste money (I guess that would be all companies...) will realize the party (at our expense) is over now.
 
Shelley - your sister and you are in my prayers! Chemo is so not fun and if this drug helps her tolerate it better, it's worth the price. But, yes, a few Holy Toledo's also ran through my mind when I saw the cost.
 
allwildgirl said:
Catherine - oh, I meant that it was a new drug for HER, not that it's a new drug :)

Laura - yup, that's one injection. So she'll have to have that every two weeks until her treatment is done. :eek:
Click to expand...



Prayers and good vibes coming you and yours sis's way. I hope it improves her counts :) It's awful how much these meds cost :mad:
 
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Holey Smokes!!! Thats expensive OMG!

Praying for your sister, you and your family!


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