Medication

[Fight11]

I’m so so upset!!! I hope you guys can give me some feedback on this. The doctors office Prescribed my husband Olaparid which is the generic name of this med. The insurance company denied it. He has the CDK 12 Gene When they got the report in from the biopsy they said this med was geared for that type of Gene. There is no way we can afford the medication!! What can we do. 😭😭😭💔💔💔

[Tall_Allen]

Don't worry too much about it - it doesn't work very well for the CDK 12 gene. Try one of the trials of Abemaciclib or Ribociclib or Palbociclib instead (preferably in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor).

[Fight11 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Allen what is a checkpoint inhibitor

[Tall_Allen in reply to Fight11]

It is a kind of immunotherapy, like Keytruda or Tencentriq. By themselves they do little for prostate cancer, but when combined with a CDK inhibitor, like Abemaciclib, they may work synergistically for men with the CDK 12 gene mutation. Ask your oncologist about clinical trials in your area for the combination.

[GP24]

The foundation one report recommends Olaparib (a PARP inhibitor) in case of a CDK 12 mutation. I guess that's what your doctor read. However, this study states:

ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/PO...

CDK12-altered prostate cancer is an aggressive subtype with poor outcomes to hormonal and taxane therapies as well as to PARP inhibitors. A proportion of these patients may respond favorably to PD-1 inhibitors, which implicates CDK12 deficiency in immunotherapy sensitivity.

As tango65 already mentioned, Pembroluzimab is a PD-1 inhibitor which may help. But very expensive.

[Fightinghard]

Sorry to hear about your husbands situation. However once you talk to your doctor again to be sure the olaparid is the best option, then file an appeal with your insurance company. Send them a copy of your drs report and recommendation. Usually i have found that they will agree to cover the drug after appeal.

[jmurgia]

What type of insurance do you have (Medicare, Exchange, private (ex. employer provided)?

[Fight11 in reply to jmurgia]

Health New England provided by employer

[JPnSD]

Are you in the US?

Appeal the insurance finding....ALWAYS...and get your Primary and Oncology team to support the appeal request...and provide any clinical studies that support it.

Look at alternatives and trials in your area.

Finally...check out my previous post a few weeks ago about the PAN Foundation.

healthunlocked.com/advanced....

Best of luck.

[Fight11]

Yes I’m in the States!!! I trust and believe in you guys!!! Evidently the drug that the doctor ordered that the insurance company denied just may not be the most suitable drug for my husband. He has the CDK12 gene. A few of the guys had mentioned on here that that’s not the best choice for that Gene!! Which was absolutely correct so I’m going to have to fight for a different drug thats More suitable for him. He is on Zytiga and prednisone right now.