Neratinib: 'Something May Be Happening ... '

During all the drama of the past couple of weeks--my getting sick while out of town, ending up in the hospital, and then having to make a decision about radiating the new tumor in my head--my battle to get the drug neratinib on compassionate use grounds kind of fell by the wayside. 

I didn't forget about it, especially since the new tumor in my skull means my cancer progressed--once again--while I was on chemo, but I couldn't DO much about it until I was home and feeling better, which I am. 

And in any case, the next move was Dr. Lee's: He was supposed to call the oncologist at Wyeth/Pfizer, Dr. Anna Berkenbilt, to see if the drug company was willing to give me neratinib on compassionate use grounds. (I don't qualify for any of the clinical trials of this drug, because my chemo history is too long.)

So I waited until my appointment with Dr. Lee today, fully prepared for the answer to be "NO," and mentally planning what I was calling "The Battle for Neratinib" ... but I got a surprise. 

Dr. Lee talked to Dr. Berkenbilt just before my appointment, and her answer was, "Something may be happening."

OK, so that's not quite yes, but then she went on to talk to Dr. Lee about all the paperwork involved and to caution him that the paperwork and so on would probably take a couple of weeks, which is actually just about right for me, since I need to get the tumor in my head zapped first. 

I have volunteered to write as much of the application as I can and then give it to Dr. Lee for editing and his additions, because, quite honestly, he doesn't have the time to do this. My entire cancer history--all 11 years of it--is just one little part of that application. 

As I've said before, it's a wonder that any sick person ever succeeds in getting a drug they need this way. And, in fact, not many do. But that's another post for another day. 

Tomorrow I start writing this puppy!

See also: Neratinib

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@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Comments

[carver]

Happy Birthday Jeanne! I was catching up on your posts and noticed a few down that today was your birthday. I hope you've had a good day. I'll be sending out a ton of good thoughts for you.