Radiation and Chemo

(Ed getting ready for radiation...note the 'donut' he holds on to.)

Because Ed does not have any type of insurance, we wondered how in the world he could afford chemo and radiation.

Dr. Splichal and the Cancer Care Center (in Athens) quickly worked out a plan for him as far as some of his medications and the radiation. He would pay for some of the less expensive medicines, pay a nominal fee each week for his care, and receive some samples of some of his medications.

The big hurdle was the chemo pill, Temodar, and the nausea medication needed to take along with it.

Temodar is astronomically expensive. It can cost up to $10,000.00 for a month's worth of treatment. Temodar works by slowing down rapid cell growth characterized by cancer cells. The most common side effects are nausea and vomiting. Other side effects are headaches, hair loss, loss of appetite, tiredness and constipation. Blood tests must be taken every other week to determine how the body is tolerating the chemicals. Thanks to the Schering Corporation's COMMITMENT TO CARE® program, Ed receives this drug at no charge. Praise God! We prayed and prayed about how he (we) could afford this drug, and God answered.

Next, he needed the drug Anzemet, which is highly effective, very strong anti-nausea drug. It too, is very, very expensive. The side effects of Anzemet are headache, tiredness, and diarrhea. (Hmmm, an answer to the constipation caused by Temodar???). But it keeps the cancer patient who is undergoing chemo treatment from having nausea and vomiting. What's a little headache and tiredness, right? It was our understanding that this drug costs roughly $2,000.00 per month. Once again, we prayed. And God answered our prayers. Ed has received samples of this drug, and hopefully will be approved soon to receive assistance from that drug manufacturer.

Say what you will about drug manufacturers. But right now I can only praise the makers of these two drugs.

Finally, with pills in hand, Ed was given the green light to start chemo and radiation! It had been 33 days since his surgery to remove the tumor. We were getting antsy. After I did some research though, I saw that typically brain cancer patients wait up to eight to ten weeks before starting radiation, to allow the brain to heal. But now, his treatments were to begin, and we all sighed a little sigh of relief. Now, something would be done!

(These are the monitors the radiation technicians watch while Ed is under the radiation machine. Ed describes it as being inside an 'electrical storm'. He said it pops and crackles all aroud his head.)