Immunotherapy wirh Provenge. ..

[Harleyboo]

I am so pissed that,I have spit, cried, cussed and prayed.. So we go to a American red cross building in Goshen, In. My bro was a teaching tool for someone to learn to do this... and my dad and uncles,and I do not support American Red Cross. Its a money making shit.. and they are going to charge over a 100,000 dollars for a made up storage,room in the back of the building with l teach the nurse how to do this. The nurses were great but this wAs totally unacceptable.... by God this is a shameful experience!!

[ctarleton]

Sounds like you were really underwhelmed by the local facilities/techs for the first leukapheresis procedure required in the three cycles recommended for your Provenge treatment. I had my leukapheresis sessions back in 2016 at a Red Cross blood center in Oakland, CA. The building was old, and the machines were similarly in a simple room, but the techs seemed to know what they were doing, and there were a relatively high number of patients coming through due to the fairly large population size of the East Bay across from San Francisco.

Perhaps you could express your concerns to the "help line" folks at the number listed in your starter kit that was mailed to you? Maybe they would consider rescheduling your remaining two leukapheresis procedures to some other relatively nearby site?

You might also contact Michiana Hematology Oncology in Mishawaka to see where their Provenge patients have been getting their leukapheresis procedures done, perhaps in the South Bend area? Go for a visit ahead of time/scheduling? See if the "vibe" may be better. Maybe ask their techs how they may respond if you begin feeling symptoms/signs of citrate toxicity or vasovagal reactions during the 3-4 hour procedure?

michianahematologyoncology....

Just some thoughts.

Charles

[Harleyboo in reply to ctarleton]

We do go to the oncologists in Mishawaka. That's who sent us to Goshen. Thanks for your reply. Just disappointed.

[harryb48]

I just completed my Provenge therapy, 5/7/2018, and found the local American Cross collection location to be just fantastic. I was never a fan of the Red Cross due to an experience while in uniform more than 50 years ago, but I will repeat that this last encounter was just great. The entire Liverpool, New York staff was courteous and extremely professional, making a uncomfortable procedure much easier to tolerate. Guess it all depends on the location and personnel.

[Harleyboo in reply to harryb48]

Wish u well, thanks for the reply!

[Joeym1040]

Most vets really dislike the Red Cross. Salvation Army is my favorite.

[j-o-h-n]

Cause they charged us for the donuts..

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 05/09/2018 10:30 PM EDT