3,000 miles away : (

just learned last night my brother (45) has Chronic Myelocytic leukemia,, i have spent hours on this computer since i found out..thank god for the internet!!! and thanks to the internet able to learn so much info that i have accepted this.. ok what happens now.. he is meeting with his dr today to go over his treatment plan.. so i will know about this tonight when someone calls me about his appointment today, i believe he is starting a drug called Gleevec today also, i guess dr has some samples in his office but told him this drug cost 2,000 a month...he has no insurance..
well he lives in northern ca, and im out here in fl... im at such a loss, from what i have put together is this is trimnal, with treatment basically i guess you can live longer,, I guess what im asking you all, what can i do when im so far away, i will go home as much as i can, when iam out there do i spend everyminute with him? i dont want to cling to him like a bad smell..lol.. but i need to make the best of the time i have with him.. im scarred... anyone with any info i would love to hear from, even if you dont have any info about CMA still i need to hear from anyone that may be going through this.. thank you all, diane

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

It is important to be empathic, and let your brother know that you are always there for him.  However, you should not overdo this, since this might lower your brother's self esteem further and cause him to have self-pity.  CML is a manageable disease given the appropriate medications.  Not all CML's are candidate for Gleevec.  Only those who tested positive for the philadelphia chromosome or the bcr-abl gene would be candidates to receive gleevec.

Gleevec is indeed an expensive drug and I doubt that the doctor has samples lying around, but I believe there is this foundation (the Max foundation) that offers low prices, if not free Gleevec for those patients who have the indication.

Regards.

[nola023]

Try to call to the Gleevec Reimbursement Hotline at 1-877-453-3832. I hope they can help you.