Unemployed, Tumor Markers and Insurance

Good Morning!

This last few weeks have been an unsavory adventure in Liz’s world. 

Unemployed:

On February 23^rd Liz received a phone call from her employer firing her from her job as of February 17, 2017.  Liz has been out on disability since early December due to the multiple day treatments she has been receiving recently and the side-effects, but had been working relatively regularly until then.  We believe there is much about this decision that is unlawful, and that her employer’s actions were timed the way they were to prevent Liz from being able to use her FMLA again when it was set to renew.

Insurance:

In the 4 business days she had to get new insurance settled before her insurance ran out on her, she was able to jump on to Noel’s insurance.  Unfortunately, in the rush to get coverage before her next treatment they were unable to verify if the new insurance would allow her to continue her treatments at City of Hope. Liz has received two treatments since her insurance with her ex-employer ran out and just this Thursday she found out that the City of Hope does not accept her new insurance. Liz and Noel are working with his HR department to see if they switch to a plan that the City of Hope does take. Fingers crossed that  they can!  If this can’t be fixed Liz and Noel may be getting bills in the neighborhood of $10,000 per treatment.

Tumor Markers:

While the current chemo Liz is on has made her feet completely numb and her hands are also starting to go numb as well, it is doing its job.  Her first blood test for tumor markers after starting the chemo shows the markers at 560, her second blood test after she had missed 1 treatment due to low potassium levels was at 1064, and the last blood test done on 3-15-17 showed her tumor markers at 320! That is the lowest they’ve been since treatment started (I think).  They’ll be doing a scan in the next few weeks so we’ll know more about what the cancer is doing soon.

Immunotherapy:

As with most chemotherapy drugs, the chemo she is on can only be administered for 12 sessions and most patients only make it to 9 sessions due to the neuropathy (numb hands and feet).  She just completed session 7 of 12.  Liz’s doctor has been talking about the next step being immunotherapy.  But this next step has also been described as the last available option.

Now, the immunotherapy he would like to put her on (Keytruda or Pembrolizumab) has done some incredible things in its clinical trials. It’s the same therapy that Jimmy Carter received and he is now cancer-free.  The cancer cells are able to trick the healthy cells into thinking they are normal healthy cells, what this therapy does is (what I like to call the Scooby-Doo effect) pull off their disguise and boost her immune system so her own healthy cells begin attacking the cancer cells. 

This all sounds fabulous. We’re absolutely on board for this next step. The problem is, (insurance matters aside) it’s in clinical trials in Florida and the doctor may not be able to get the drugs at the City of Hope. He is trying hard though and feels strongly about getting this for Liz.

IF we can’t get the immunotherapy drugs…there aren’t many options left. The doctor said they can try another chemo, but some insurance companies won’t allow more than a certain number of chemo treatments to be done.  Also at City of Hope they pride themselves on using medication that is proven to get the job done, so a new chemo may not be as accurate or helpful for Liz’s type of cancer.

We are keeping our fingers crossed for all of the best outcomes. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. If you can spare a donation please consider sending it Liz’s way, they are a bit terrified of what may happen with insurance going forward.  

In spite of all of this, Liz is doing her best to live the life she has, while she can and I hope you will join us in supporting her as best as we can on her adventures.

Much love to you and yours!