The Cost of Taxol and Carboplatin

[Bee07]

My mother has been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer Stage 3c and is due to undergo the second cycle of chemotherapy very soon. She was given Taxol 210mg (for her 1st cycle) that was imported from India and Carboplatin 300 mg (also for her 1st cycle) from Germany. There is a lack of chemo drugs in the country where my mother is from so I contacted a friend of mine who lives in Germany and asked if she could help me with supplying both drugs from Germany. She managed to find the supplier from Germany and quoted me the total of $2900 for the above dosages of both drugs, that is for 1 cycle. Is this a normal price? Please anyone help me!

[PF_PVD]

Everytime I have chemo (carbo/dosetaxol), my doctor bills my insurance company $9,000 (USD) and my insurance company reimburses him $1,800.  This is for the drugs and the dispensing.

[Bee07]

Thank you for your information. I certainly found it very useful. I was quite preoccupied with finding drugs for my mum recently that I did not realise that my mum has just started losing her hair for the first time 18 days after her first chemo. I was talking to her using WebCam (I live in UK and my mum is in Mongolia) and I had a big lump inside my throat when I saw my mum without hair. I could not concentrate on anything apart from finding a shop that deals with Wigs and managed to find one! She is having her second round of chemo tomorrow and was quite pleased to find out that she has at least something to cover her bold head. I am not sure if I told you about it but my mum also takes Cordyceps (in liquid form) that are doing wonders to her. She told me that she is off the painkillers now (no pain in her knees or joints!) and that she is eating a lot at the moment. She uses a lot of Manuka Honey in her morning and evening teas that are from Australia as well as Pomegranate fruit. I am hoping something will come out of it.......
Thanks a lot for your support. Wishing you all the best and big hugs.

[Kimchi]

I live in Thailand and my hopsital uses brand names and generic.  I use the generic drugs that  are imported from India ()...by the time they add the taxes (yes they have the nerve to tax cancer medicines) it comes out to 3 times the cost if you were to purchase it in India and hand carry it back yourself.

My bill for my first cycle (no insurance) was approx 1,000 USD about same dosage.  Then I started to buy the Taxol (intaxel) directly from India (cost me apprx 150usd 350mg) and my bill dropped to $380 per treatment ( carbo from India is very very very cheap approx $30.)  Luckily I have someone who brings them in for me but even if I had to , it would be much cheaper for me to fly (airfare is about US200) purchase my meds  directly from India than to pay the local price (I go to a public hospital so it's already at cost).  The company that manufactures both meds in India is called DABUR.Here is list of medicines that my doctor will accept for my treatment for paclitaxel, there are only 3 companies that were accepted by the hospital's committee.
1. Bristol Myer Squibb (Taxol) from US
2. Anxatax from Australia
3 .Dabur (Bioscience) from India  (check out their website)
If you live in Eastern Europe, there are many pharmacutical companies that manufacture GENERIC meds as well.  Hope this helps....

[kismetfarm]

I would suspect that price was about right.  In New Zealand our public health system limits the amount of taxol you may have for free (one of those things that appalls me!) and I have been told it is NZ$27000 for six rounds of taxol and carboplatin.  That would be about $20,000US

[Helmar]

Hello...Where does your Mum live? Most hospitals treating cancer, have a supply of the necessary drugs on hand, and insurance covers this in most cases. I know they can be expensive, but if covered my a health-care system, or insurance, then the person doesn't need to pay. Surely there is a better way for your Mum to be treated, than you having to find the drug yourself. That doesn't seem right. I'm amazed at this. I hope your Mum does well with those drugs though, and that they work good for her. Wishing you and your Mum well....hugs...Helen...