Help needed for my mum and advise please

cienna

Hi All

Can someone please help me. I am from South Africa and my mum is "supposedly suppose to have been on a good medical aid". she is on the best available option but her medical aid refuses to pay for the full amount of her treatment. They are only prepared to pay R126000 of the R510 000 treatment. My mum needs the herceptin but due to cost and medical ais not paying she will not be able to have it. Does anyone know of anyone in South Africa Durban that can assist me in fighting this! I know there have been ladies in SA that have fought medical aids to pay for herceptin for the treatment of early BC. Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks

Cienna

Mum Diagnosed: 11/11/2011 (Left breast CA)
Age: 59yrs
Lumpectomy done: 23/11/2011 (Tumour 1.2cm, Grade 2, 2 nodes removed. All negative)
Results: ER+, PR-, HER2 +++
Started treatment: RADS on 20/12/2011 (Finished on 02/02/12)
Will be going onto Femara for 5 years and receive once in 3 weeks Herceptin for 1 year.

Moderators

Cienna,

You may find some helpful information on the main Breastcancer.org site page Paying for Your Care, specifically the Tips to Lower Medicine Costs page with resources to contact that may be able to help.

Hope this helps and good luck!

--The Mods

orange1

If she her insurance won't cover the cost of a whole year of herceptin, will it cover the portion that is normally given at the same time as chemo?  If she could get the first part of her treatment that would be hugely beneficial because studies indicate that chemo and herceptin given together are more effective than either given alone.

It is not known how long herceptin is needed after chemo.  The studies looked at one year (very expensive), but there is some evidence that a shorter duration (FinHer study) that a shorter duration is just as effective.  The most important part is the herceptin + chemo given together at the beginning of treatment.

Best of luck to you and your mom.