Zytiga

My oncologist suggested adding Zytiga and Prednisone to my current hormone therapy of Lupron and Casodex. It is my understanding that Zytiga is used when the cancer becomes castrate resistant and starts producing its own testosterone. My insurance has approved it, and I was told I will have a co-pay of $150 per month. The pharmacy told me it is $8k total per month.

I was already worried about the increased side effects, especially for long term Prednisone, and now I have to worry about the increased cost. I believe this drug has only recently been approved for all PCa patients.

Does anyone have experience with Zytiga in a situation similar to mine? Is the co-pay in line with what others pay? Should I not worry about the cost and just do it even though my PSA is already very low and continuing to go down?

I will be doing this while undergoing radiation treatments (HDR BT + IMRT) and then for a time afterwards. All comments would be greatly appreciated.

Hello ......

   I have a history of 5-months on Zytiga in 2012. It was the first of 4-different types of treatments I've had so far - beyond Lupron and Casodex.

   The retail cost is prohibitive. Your co-pay sounds like a very good deal. My first month cost me $2600. out of pocket - then reduced down to about $250. per month by the third month.

   PLEASE NOTE ...... we all react differently to treatments - for side effects and for whether or not they even work for us. You will not know ... until you've been on it for at least a couple of months. It did not work for me. It has worked for many others - at least for awhile!

   My side effects mostly were with a destroyed appetite - very little else though. However, i did lose over 40-pounds in 5+ months. Again - others do not have the loss of appetite.

   I have been on prednisone for over two years now. It is a concern - but it is an integral part of many chemo or HT treatments. I've been on 10mg once daily lately.

   For me ..... it has made me very easy to bruise - my arms mostly when i play with my dog. I understand it does tend to tear down existing muscle. My legs feel it a little after two years on it.

   Hope the Zytiga works for you.

Peace and wellness

Rob & Gizmo

 

Jack:

My doc was very interested in getting the extra strength of Zytiga before the radiation. That way the cancer would already be weakened and more susceptible to attack. (At least that's what my lay interpretation was). I'm currently on Zytiga with a $0 copay, but that's rare. Yours sounds in the range ... i think that J&J through their zytiga website may help cover part of that copay for you, however. It didn't affect me, so i didn't pursue looking into the details; you should.

And like others have said, your experience and mileage may vary greatly ... you'll just have to see on whether and how it works and at what cost.

Ray

Sam -- I don't believe Provenge has been approved for less advanced cases such as myself. I think there is a hope on the part of some oncologists that this will become state of the art treatment at some point for patients at an earlier stage, but for now, it is not there.

Zytiga has been approved as part of HT for most high risk patients. It is just a matter of insurance coverage.

Good luck on your treatment, the future may depend upon your success!

Regarding Provenge (and others):

   Insurance rules the World!

   Example of medicare coverage (in 2012-2014):

Zytiga ................. covered by Part D only for 5-months

Taxotere .............. covered by Part B only for 30-weeks

Xtandi ................. did get coverage for free for 2-months

Jevtana ............... covered by Part B only for 19-weeks so far

   I have been on the above.

   I did check Provenge in August of 2013 and the retail pricing for the 4-treatments/infusions was approximately $60,000. to $70,000. BUT - as it was said here earlier, it is only approved at certain stages - in order to be covered by whatever form of insurance - medicare inmy case.

   I shouldn't be this complicated!

Rob & Gizmo