Some disappointing news this morning. Due to the surging COVID-19 cases my fiancé and I were rejected by our Delhi port of entry authority for a quarantine exemption. Also due to COVID emergency medical visas issued for entry into India needs to be handled in person in San Francisco (as this consulate handles Arizona) and they only handle US citizens. I am a Canadian citizen with permanent residency here in the USA. Not enough time to organize a trip to Canada to get this done before Thursday.
So we cancelled our flights for this upcoming Thursday and are back to the drawing board.
On a positive note I have a conference call with Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv tomorrow. Negative note is they are really expensive. The initial price they quoted me is now 4 times as much and their quarantine rules are tough and are limited to vacated Air BNB's for duration of quarantine of 15 days. No hotels allowed until after this.
Australia's Genesis care (previously Theranostics) will be contacting me today about options in Australia and their solo center in London, England. Australia is tough to enter and medical visas are taking about 3 weeks. The UK is rampant with COVID-19 cases but easy to enter. Just pricey with that strong British Pound currency.
Many hospitals in Germany are not taking anymore international patients for now due to COVID but I still am talking to a couple of them who have not just refused my initial inquiry.
Have a contact in Mexico now that offers PSMA workup and treatments and he is talking to my oncologist at the Mayo.
Finally I made contact with Dr. Lindquist in Nebraska. He wrote to me once and it sounded promising but I have heard from his since.
Minor setback and I was so excited to head out this week but will keep trying...
Written by
Cleodman
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
"My husband was treated in Vienna/ Austria by Prof. Markus Hartenbach even he was totally hormone naive.
On the website minute-medical.com you will see a lot of information. He speeks also English very well and his phone number is +43 677 625 45515.
We paid 14000€ for each treatment and before, my husband had a Ga68-PSMA petscan in Vienna too, it was 2250€. I know that the main hospital in Vienna, AKH, treats some patients after ADT and/ or Chemotherapy with Lu177. I think that it is free if you are resident in Austria?"
Thank you for the information. The prices have increased dramatically now due a change in the protocol that uses a higher dose. It is now between €20000-€25000 per treatment for 3 treatments and the PSMA PET CT is now €2475. 😞
Wow. So frustrating and sorry to hear what you are going through.
I did a clinicaltrials.gov search for PSMA this morning, and only one location is shown as currently recruiting - MSK in NY, which I have a pending application with. Hope to find out soon. If I get rejected, I guess my plan B would be getting another Axumin scan, which we know is not as sensitive as PSMA.
I live in Russia, I have a friend who has already been treated 3 times in Germany. He was treated 2 more times in Baku. It is cheaper than in Germany. There are English-speaking staff.Call them or email them. I can send you contacts to the doctor who treats my friend.
Call the office of Dr. Nordquist in Omaha again, he may have some trials. We had to try and call more than once to get going. You can ask for Laura, she was my husbands trial nurse and may point you in the right direction.
Hi Cman, I just finished my 3rd LU177 treatment in Vienna Austria. Dr. Hautenbach's approach is a little more aggressive than Germany (his associates). The first dose is higher followed by 2 more treatments thirty days apart. PSMA scan was done in Vienna the morning prior to the first treatment. Bring your checkbook! First treatment 25,000 EU and 2nd/3rd @ 20,000 EU. That said, I highly recommend him.
Yes I have contact with him. His costs are so high compared to the rest of Europe even with taking in the higher doses. I was going to head there on Dec 22, 2020 but flights are $5000 for economy during this time which is crazy. I need to balance getting the treatment with financial impact unfortunately.
I admire your attitude. When I read your post, I was very disappointed for you. And disappointed at people who aren’t taking this pandemic seriously, thereby affecting others
Thanks for the info. Stay after it! You will be fine because you seem very well informed, have a great attitude, and advocate for yourself. All the best.
All the best for your hopes in Australia where I have had 4 treatments with Lu177 in 2017. We are uptight re quarantine restrictions here in New Zealand and Oz as we dont have any community transmission of Covid 19. Just a reqality of the times.........R
Sorry you are here at such a young age. Can you do other treatments until all of the Covid stuff dies down. (A very bad pun. Sorry.) Lu 177 is a lot of money for something that might work. Someone here might have a guess as to when it is available in US of A. PSMA at Los Angeles or San Francisco. If you got the money. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Good luck.
I know there are important drug testing and approving procedures, but come on! People ought to be able to get this treatment if they are willing and they understand any unknowns or risk. Is there no program or allowance that allows us to “just give it a shot” here in the USA? Seriously searching the whole world for this therapy that is here in the country is crazy. I think calling the congressional delegation or the drug company. Perhaps get a lawyer to draft up some kind of waiver. So damn frustrating.
I am so sorry your plans to travel to India have fallen through. Talk about an emotional roller coaster. However your determination in pursuing this treatment elsewhere is remarkable. Sometimes things happen for a reason. May you be guided to the place that is best for you 🙏🏻
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.