I can certainly feel the difference between a GemCis week (last week), and a Gemzar-only week (this week). Cisplatin has more side effects, and makes me more tired, than Gemzar only. Today I got another booster shot of Neulasta to stimulate the white blood cell count and keep up my platlet count.
From an article I recently read (available here), Neulasta shots apparently are incredibly expensive:
"The hospital billed her insurer $14,865 for Neulasta, a shot to boost
white blood cells and help her tolerate chemotherapy. Several cancer
specialists said Neulasta usually costs less than half that amount, but
the charge was $12,000 for Tyree's friend and blog postings by other
cancer patients tell similar stories. The worst part: A much cheaper alternative is available – a different
formulation of Neulasta – but many patients aren't offered that option.
There's even a cheaper way to get Neulasta, but hospitals make a lot of
money giving the shot instead of teaching a patient or a caregiver how
to do that."
I'm thankful that my insurance coverage is solid, and all I have is a $25 co-pay. But it does point to the disparities in our health-care delivery system. I'll save that discussion for another day.
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