Insurance won't cover a chem drug??

[Sherrygail]

I do not know how true this is, but I read that sometimes a doctor can call the manufacturer of an unapproved drug and they will give it to you free so they can count you in their study.  You may have to get into a clinical trial though, but it is worth a call.  I believe Avastin is one of those drugs.  Also.I heard........M D Anderson in Houston is big on using combo drugs rather than singles.   Sherrygail

[Tybear]

Maybe it's different in the U.S., but in Canada, the drug company won't give you the drugs for free - at least that's been my expierence with Avastin. There are no trials I qualify for that involve Avastin and although the drug manufacturer (Roche) will "offset" the cost, it certainly doesn't come anywhere close to covering it. I think they pay for $1400 per treatment, but that's a fraction of the total cost.
The only trial I'm aware of right now that involves Avastin is for newly diagnosed patients and it's in addition to Taxol/carbo.
I've never heard of anyone taking 4 drugs at once - wow! That must be a big hit...hopefully that get's the results for you though Julie!
Becky

[alanpvegas]

It highly depends on the drug and study...like Avastin may be given if there is a clinical trial for it that involves ovca...but since it's already an FDA approved drug, you won't find a huge phase III clinical trial on it.

As far as the drug companies (outside of a trial) paying (or 'giving') the drug for free is (or was) a nightmare when my mom had ovca with no insurance...she never qualified.  You have to be dirt poor, usually, to even qualify.  At least that's been my experience.

[westajul]

Hi,
  yes it is true MD Anderson is big on using combo drugs. They recommended 4 drug combo for me and avastin was one of the drugs. My OVCA is responding to the combo. I am not in a clinical trial but my combination of drugs is part of a study for mets  colon cancer on the liver. Now with that said my OVCA is not acting like OVCA but more like colon cancer...so that is why I am not in the clinical trial. but am using that drug combo. Hope you are doing well. Julie