Need help to get Avastin

[jane65]

Hi ladies, this is the second time I've posted here and I'm frightened and need information regarding getting Avastin paid for. Like all of you, I'm trying so hard to be able to live as long as I can. I saw my oncologist today and asked him if he would have added Avastin to my Topotecan which i'm getting for relapsed OVCA. He said yes he would have, but it still hasn't been approved for OVCA and would cost $1,000.00 pr dose.
Luckily the Topo.is working for me and my CA125 has going down steadily and my surgeon can't feel the enlarged pelvic lymph nodes at this time.
I'm stage 3c with mets to the lymph nodes. Diagnosed May, 2007, had major debulking surgery, carbo/taxol, relapsed 3-4 months after cycles ended 9/07. Oncologist said he expects the remissions to get shorter as time goes on. In addition I've tested BRCA 2 positive. My primary insurance is Medicare. My husband's union approves chemo drugs only which are "approved for the use in types of cancer's requested for." I think that if I contact the manufacturer, they can advise me how to get financial aid, but I'm not sure. I also believe that I then have to have my oncologist's office send some paperwork. Thanks to my previous chemo I have chemo brain and forget information easily. I see that many of you are on Avastin and wondered how you were able to have your oncologist get it for you. Thank you for your help, I hope you all have a pleasant day tomorrow. Jane

[Teresa222]

I wish I had known about this trial before I began my first chemo treatments.  Of course, in retrospect many things are very different.  Now, I know I am platinum resistent.  I didn't know that early in the game. It is an excellent opportunity for anyone reading this who has not begun chemo. Thank you Dee09.
Teresa

[Dee09]

I'm sorry for what you're going through.  None of us need the extra stress of finances added to the incredible stress we already have with this disease.  

I haven't posted here before but when I saw your question about Avastin I felt like I had to respond.  I am on a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC for the use of Avastin as a first-line treatment in Stage II and III ovarian cancer.  This is a widespread trial that I am told involves hundreds of women worldwide.  They manufacturer pays for the drug, although I have to pay for the associated costs.  Unfortunately, one of the eligibility requirements is no prior chemo for ovca.  However, my understanding is that Genentech is very anxious to get Avastin approved for ovca so I suspect there are other trials going on.  As a couple of other posts have mentioned, I would search for trials - I can't specifically recommend these sites but the National Cancer Institute at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/findtrials and the National Institutes of Health at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov have searchable databases, and I'm sure there are others out there.  You might need to try the generic name, bevacizumab.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful but I hope this can lead somewhere.  All the best.

[jane65]

Thank you all for your information, I will definitely look into your suggestions.My oncologist said that we'll wait, and keep it in reserve for the expected 3rd, or 4th line treatment. However as I said, I want to know how to pay for it when the time comes.
Karikay, interesting that the phone # and website for Genentech was deleted here, I will Google it. Becky, how awful what you are going through just to be able to get the Avastin your doctor feels you need to kill the cancer, that's so unfair and put such a burden on you.
Thanks again, and I wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season. Jane

[Cindy809]

Here is some information I found this morning.  I hope it helps....Cindy

Access2wellness is the single entry point into one of the
broadest selections of assistance programs available to help
uninsured and underinsured people who qualify, access
prescription medications for free or at a discount. These
programs provide more than 1,000 medications. The simple
design of access2wellness lets users more easily determine
their eligibility and apply for assistance. Access2wellness
was designed as an easily-accessible resource for patients,
caregivers, health care professionals and hospital
administrators?as well as other groups wishing to join and
extend our effort to bring better health within everyone's
reach:  www.Access2wellness.com

[lucymullis]

Have you considered a PARP trial?  There has been evidence that those of us that are BRCA2 positive respond well to this.  Try www.clinicaltrials.gov.  Also, if your ca125 is going down (Yippee!!) you might want to consider keeping the option of avastin for any possible future needs.  I wish you the best.

[karikay]

Yes, definitely contact Genentech. They have a phone number at (***-***-****/***-***-****  to help patients with questions about affording their medications.
They also have a website at http://www.****.***
Good luck with getting the medication. It is a crying shame that even when good medications are available ti can sometimes be hard to obtain them.

[Tybear]

I live in Canada, but I'm on Avastin and am paying for it out of pocket. Our Ontario Health Insurance Plan doesn't cover it because it's not approved for ovarian cancer. I had to sell my house to cover the costs, which at a 10mg/kg dose works out to be $4360.87 per treatment. I am having my second dose tomorrow.
I know this isn't what you wanted to hear and I'm sorry you are going through this...having to worry about money when you are sick just adds to the stress we're already under.
I would contact the manufacturer of the drug and see about their assistance program. I get about $1400 back from them, so I guess my treatments are really more like $5400...
If the topotecan is working for you, I would just stick with it for now and save the Avastin for a later time...maybe by then, we'll have had some success at getting it approved for Ovarian cancer too. I also think that exploring some clinical trials would also be a great idea.
Best of luck to you,
Becky

[Cindy809]

I am currently appealing a denial with Anthem concerning a procedure that is not approved for ovca.  We (my husband and I) are going through the necessary appeal process. The doctors at UVA and an advocate for me are working with us for the appeal.  I think you need to contact your congressman and your state rep.  I was offered avastin the treatment before last.  It was going to be gemzar/carbo/avastin.  I turned it down due to my bowels.  I know of many women that are on avistan alone.   The gold standard for first line chemotherapy for ovca might be carbo/taxol/avastin.  I was told this information by three doctors.  I know you might have to work hard for this one.  I found someone to help me with my appeal process for my procedure.  She is qualified and wins most of her cases.  She only does appeals for my situation.  There must be someone that can help you with getting you started for an appeal for Avastin. Contact your insurance company along with the other people I mentioned earlier.  Try the hospital.  Get busy and work on it!!!!  I don't know how my doctor was able to get the drug for me.  It must have been an NCI trial at the time.  After all the chemos I have had trials are very limited for me now.  Have you asked your doctor about trials for Avastin?  Hope this helps....Cindy