I am in the unique position to be able to answer your question with some certainty. I wanted to do Provenge about 3 years ago. However, Provenge is only approved for castrate resistant men and I am still hormone sensitive so my insurance company refused to cover it. I talked it over with my MO and decided to pay for it out of pocket. After much discussion, my MO worked it out for the 3 stage Provenge treatment. Everything was done exactly like his patients who’s insurance company was paying except I paid out of pocket. All three treatments including everything (including my MO’s fee) was approximately $165,000. A hell of a lot to be sure but nowhere near the million dollars you are hearing. Perhaps the hospital charges are adding a lot. However there is no need for a hospital stay. My blood was taken out on a Friday at the local Red Cross and infused back in at my doctors office the following Monday. No shortcuts. I am convinced it made a big difference. I will be posting more about it soon.
Feel free to contact me private message me if you have any questions.
Jumping into this conversation to say I had Provenge in 2021 and believe it is the reason my QOL is so good today. People cannot believe my age nor that I have been living with metastatic disease for 10 years. YMMV, of course. BTW it did not change my PSA.
>>>Provenge, the prostate cancer treatment, typically costs around $93,000 for a full course of treatment, which consists of three infusions[1][3][5]. Each infusion costs approximately $31,000[1]. The cost can vary based on factors such as insurance coverage, location, and the specific pharmacy used[2]. Financial assistance may be available through programs like Dendreon ON Call, which helps patients manage the cost of Provenge treatment[2].
Yes, it is possible to receive Keytruda (pembrolizumab) even if you've had Provenge (sipuleucel-T), provided it is clinically indicated. Provenge is an autologous cellular immunotherapy designed to stimulate an immune response specifically against prostate cancer, while Keytruda is a checkpoint inhibitor that enhances the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells more broadly.
However, combining or sequencing immunotherapies depends on various factors, such as:
1. Clinical Indication: Keytruda is generally used for cancers with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR). It is also considered for specific biomarkers like PD-L1 expression.
2. Response to Provenge: If Provenge was used previously, the immune system's status and any residual effects from the therapy would be evaluated.
3. Overall Health and Tumor Progression: The treatment strategy would depend on whether the cancer is responding, stable, or progressing after previous therapies.
If this becomes a consideration for you in the future, a medical oncologist would review the clinical evidence, biomarkers, and your treatment history to determine the best approach. Would you like me to provide more specific details on Keytruda eligibility criteria in prostate cancer?
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.
Provenge is Next
Provenge results?
Provenge
