I NEED HELP PLEASE!

mvides17

Hello there ladies, I'm a first time poster but I've been coming here during the past few months whenever I need to get my spirits up by reading your brave stories. You se, my mother (46 years old) was diagnosed with stage IV BC last june. She does not have insurance, that, mixed with all of those sudden decicions you make when you learn the dx. She decided to pack her bags and come to Guatemala (her home country) to have her chemos done since she would be getting the same meds at a cheaper price. Six sessions of chemotherapy, 3 surgeries (including the bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction surgeries), countless ammounts of antibiotics & narcotics to relieve her pain later, and all our savings ran out.

Originally everything was well because we thought that it went away and that all she had to take were her hormone meds to keep it from coming back. About 3 weeks ago, my mother started complaining about having pain all over the body; her onc ordered various scans and she was diagnosed with bone mets. The onc said that she would have to start a new treatment with Zometa to help her bones since she is in a lot of pain whenever she has to get up or lay down. The problem is that medicine is too expensive and we simply can't afford it. I want my mother to get well and live for a long long time so she can be at my wedding and meet her grandchildren.

NOW THIS IS WHAT I REALLY NEED HELP WITH

 My mother needs to be treated with zometa, but she can't work due to her pain and doesn't have medical insurance. She is a legal US resident. What can I do to help her? Are there any organizations out there that can help out? does medicaid help in this sort of things? anyone that has gone through something similar that could give me some advice, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL,

-M. Vides 

Anonymous

Sometimes if you contact the company who manfactures a drug, you can get it for free, providing you fit the guidelines which are normally that you don't earn much money at all and it sounds like your mother fits the bill.  I checked into this once and asked the rep I was talking to who would give me the drug and she said Oh, the doctor's office will....if we provide the drug, your doctor will administer it.  I did zometa for years, but now do Xgeva.....the zometa did help with my bone pain and kept my bone mets stable.  Often they give it with hormonal treatments....has she done all of those?...aromasin, faslodex?...is she post menopausal? 

mvides17

Hello Marybe, my heart goes out to you and it inspires me to see you doing so well after all these years. I will definatelly try to go straight to the manufacturers, I hope that'll work. My mother is currently taking tamoxifen for her hormones, oxycodone for the pain, and the zometa is on standby while we get the money or the med itself.

mrsnjband

Sending love & prrays in support to you & your family. NJ

lago

I don't know if the US organizations can help your mother unless she's in the US but it's worth a try. Here are some organizations to contact:

American Cancer Society: 
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/FindingandPayingforTreatment/ManagingInsuranceIssues/HealthInsuranceandFinancialAssistancefortheCancerPatient/index  

Susan B Komen:
http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/PrescriptionDrugs.html   
http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/FinancialResources.html  
http://ww5.komen.org/KomenNewsArticle.aspx?id=7742  
http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/InsuranceandOtherFinancialIssues.html  

mdg

Novartis makes Zometa.  Here is a link to their patient assistance program.  If she meets the criteria she can get meds for free. 

http://www.rxassist.org/Search/Prog_Details.cfm?program_Id=202&PD_Id=541&Drug_Id=1215&Company_Id=32&search_type=2&CFID=6487916&CFTOKEN=81357235

You can also search for help on other drugs on that website for assistance.  Patients usually have to have a very low income level and no insurance coverage.  Sometimes it is hard to qualify, but it may be worth looking in to.  If I find anything else,  I will let you know.  Good luck!

Anonymous

Tamoxifen is good....I was on it before I became post menopausal and it shrunk my tumors 50%....I am not sure if it was the tamoxifen or the aredia (the one they used before zometa was released) but it did get rid of my bone pain.  I hope one of those sites they gave you info for is able to help you find assistance in getting the medication and that your mother can get rid of the pain....I am not having any now, but know bone pain is no fun. 

mvides17

thank you ladies so very much for all of the useful info! I will definitely look into those sites!! My mom will be coming back to the states in the following weeks so she can continue her treatment!