11 years ago I had a mastectomy on my right breast, and followed up with 7 weeks of radiation. All was well...then in May I was short of breath and my primary Doctor said it was COPD? Well I questioned that and demanded a lung xray. That is when involvement in a lymph node was found, and then after many tests, MRI, cat scans etc. it was discovered in my chest wall on the mastectomy side. Doctor said only happens in 1% of population. Lucky me.
Then the nightmare began with my Insurance company. I have Regence as a supplement to my Medicare. The Tumor Board at the cancer center recommended I start treatment with Kisqali as my prognosis was I had 1 year without treatment and 2-4 with. Kisqali has a median overall survival rate of 58.7 months, but it was rejected by Regence and I was told I had to try Ibrance with an overall survival rate of 34.8 mo. The co-pay for me was $5,890 a month!! So I spent 2.5 months seeking help for the co-pay, and finally started on Ibrance capsulesat 125mg with Faslodex injections . After 17 days I had mouth sores, my white count plummeted and I had a terrible dry cough. Dr. Stopped my treatment for 2 weeks and I am to begin again next Wed. Sept. 29th. with Ibrance at 100mg.
My questions...Has anyone tried Kisqali, have you had issues with your Insurance companies over ridding Doctors , and has anyone else had chest wall metastasis that was inoperable, and told 2-4 years with treatment? I guess I am just not accepting a timeline for my death , but would really like to hear if anyone has actually beat this!!! Sorry for the rambling. I am still in shock,and so upset that I have to waste energy on fighting with Insurance companies, instead of fighting for my life.!!!