Posted on 09/26/2010 7:37:28 PM PDT by Graybeard58
Cancer patients, brace yourselves. Many new drug treatments cost nearly $100,000 a year, sparking fresh debate about how much a few months more of life is worth.
The latest is Provenge, a first-of-a-kind therapy approved in April. It costs $93,000 a year and adds four months' survival, on average, for men with incurable prostate tumors. Bob Svensson is honest about why he got it: insurance paid.
"I would not spend that money," because the benefit doesn't seem worth it, says Svensson, 80, a former corporate finance officer from Bedford, Mass.
His supplemental Medicare plan is paying while the government decides whether basic Medicare will cover Provenge and for whom. The tab for taxpayers could be huge — prostate is the most common cancer in American men. Most of those who have it will be eligible for Medicare, and Provenge will be an option for many late-stage cases. A meeting to consider Medicare coverage is set for Nov. 17.
"I don't know how they're going to deal with that kind of issue," said Svensson, who was treated at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in suburban Boston. "I feel very lucky."
For the last decade, new cancer-fighting drugs have been topping $5,000 a month. Only a few of these keep cancer in remission so long that they are, in effect, cures. For most people, the drugs may buy a few months or years. Insurers usually pay if Medicare pays. But some people have lifetime caps and more people are uninsured because of job layoffs in the recession. The nation's new health care law eliminates these lifetime limits for plans that were issued or renewed on Sept. 23 or later.
Celgene Corp.'s Revlimid pill for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, can run as much as $10,000 a month; so can Genentech's
(Excerpt) Read more at pjstar.com ...
The prices are ridiculous. Why even make the product if no one can afford it?
Perhaps an economy of scale will come into effect.
Larger amount of production, greater efficiency, etc., perhaps the costs will come down.
But I’ll bet those big union bosses and Lousy Rat’ Congress Criters will be able to get any drug or surgeries they want....
>> Perhaps an economy of scale will come into effect.
Exactly.
The problem now, is that with "free" healthcare provided by the gov't, we've got about 300 million people who think that they all deserve $100,000 a year worth of medical coverage. That just doesn't work.
>> Cancer patients, brace yourselves. Many new drug treatments cost nearly $100,000 a year, sparking fresh debate about how much a few months more of life is worth.
Around $8k/month.
Is a classroom worth half a million dollars? Spark, spark...
$93,000 for 4 months (if you are lucky). Add any side effects and do the math.
If insurance covers they might get it but if it means digging in their pockets, most people would /should definitely say no. Leave that $93,000 to your family or?
By the way, $93,000 is the premium for a family for 7-8 years so someone will have to pay that in extra fees
Research and development is expensive. If we don’t want new drugs, that’s one thing. If we do, the cost of developing them has to be paid for somehow.
Hopefully the medical research would build on itself that that the 4 month survival or infe increase would turn into 12, into 24, into 48 etc. And as it became more effective and used more widely the cost would go down.
But under democratcare, it’s probably moot anyway, and you’ll be lucky to get morphine.
It's like they went ahead and named it for the revenge you are taking on your progeny.
These are custom made drugs, IIRC
“But it takes about a month to prepare each custom-made course of Provenge”
http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/06/dendreons-provenge-vaccine-faces-rationing/
It would depend. If you’ve got the $$ and its just you, why not? Of course, if your wife and kids need that $$ after you’re gone, then .... no. After all, we’re just talking about prolonging life, not a cure.
Previous post should’ve read “life” increase..
Liquidate a 200K 401K, pay the taxes, pay 100K for the drug, live half a year or longer. I would pay that price to keep my husband alive.
Where to get help paying for costly cancer drugs
By The Associated Press © 2010 The Associated Press
Sept. 26, 2010, 10:52AM
Even as new cancer treatments offer hope for some, their cost is out of reach for many. Tens of thousands of people seek help from drug companies and charities that provide free medicines or cover copays for people who can’t afford it.
Here is a list of places to seek help:
_ Genentech: http://www.GenentechAccessSolutions.com
_ Novartis: http://www.patientassistancenow.com
_ Patient Advocate Foundation, 800-532-5274 http://www.patientadvocate.org
_ CancerCare, 866-552-6729 http://www.cancercarecopay.org
_ Chronic Disease Fund, 877-968-7233 http://www.cdfund.org
_ Healthwell Foundation, 800-675-8416 http://www.healthwellfoundation.org
_ Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 877-557-2672 http://www.LLS.org/copay
_ National Organization for Rare Disorders 800-999-6673 http://www.rarediseases.org
_ Patient Access Network Foundation, 866-316-7263 http://www.panfoundation.org
_ Patient Advocate Foundation, 866-512-3861 http://www.copays.org
_ Patient Services Inc., 800-366-7741 http://www.patientservicesinc.org
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/7218792.html
A lot of the problem is caused by the FDA. The cost of bringing a new drug to market can be up to $1 billion and even with FDA approval every step of the way, the manufacturer is not immune from liability. And even after it is available, the pharmaceutical company only has a limited time to make a profit before the patent expires.
I speak as one that was bleeding to death in a blizzard, alone, from internal injuries after a fall from a remote mountain last December. Dying isn't so bad. Having to do it twice sucks.
/johnny
Ninety three thousand is only about $32.00/hour for the four months. I've seen people spend money faster than that on a barstool.
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