Skip to main content

The Pomalyst has arrived

And what a chore it was getting it!

Received a call from the Kaiser pharmacy yesterday regarding the Pomalyst Edie is about to start taking for her Multiple Myeloma. Edie wasn't available at the time, so I attempted to deal with the pharmacists questions.

While I only spent just over 20 minutes on the phone, it felt like an eternity, listening to the pharmacist go over all the concerns with the drug, including the cost, which was A LOT more expensive than I thought. And this was on top of the 2+ hours Edie spent with a nurse a week or so ago, signing all sorts of documents, and going over, I'm sure much of what I went over again yesterday.

I understand all the concerns Celgene has with using this drug. Pomalyst, AKA Pomalidomide, is the second iteration of Thalidomide (the first being Revlimid), the sleeping pill/tranquilizer that created such an uproar in the early 60's, due to its link to birth defects in babies born to mothers taking the drug, but this just seemed over the top. But then again, what do I know. I'm sure there a valid reasons.

Anyways, it's hard to believe a drug, with such a checkered past, could now be used for such good (with certain precautions), but what may be even more surprising about this whole procedure, was the pharmacist let me answer all her questions concerning this drug, and Edie's taking it.

It does my heart good to know there are still some reasonable people out there.

Now, let's just hope the drug does the trick!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The results are in

And I am iron deficient, big time. [Which would account for my low hemoglobin] Test Result Ref Range IRON 30 59-158 mcg/dL TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY 231 250-420 mcg/dL IRON SAT 13 20-50 % My Ferritin levels were good, but that could be because Ferritin is also an "acute phase reactant", that is sometimes increased with acute or chronic disease. Folate and B12 levels were also within the normal range. The only problem now is determining what is causing the iron deficiency, which in the case of men, is [very] rare. My oncologist has given me a Globin Fecal test to perform, and has scheduled me for a consultation with a colorectal surgeon to discuss performing a colonoscopy, which could be problematic because of my large spleen. In the mean time, I've decided to start taking an iron supplement, it's only the quantity that is causing me some consternation. I've been told by a very knowledgeable person that to overcome an iron deficiency, I need to be taking 300 mg o...

This is just one of those days

It's one of those days you just want to sit around the house and do absolutely nothing, or watch some movies you have recorded. It might even be a good day to read a book, if you were so inclined, which I am not. As you should be able to see from the view out my bedroom window, it is raining outside. The rain started last night, and hasn't let up since. I can't complain too much though, as this is the rainy season, and we do need the rain. Plus Monday's are typically my day off from exercise, so I will surprise everyone, and not complain. I just feel sorry for anyone who might be visiting from, say Argentina, like a friend of mine (fellow MCLer), who happens to be in Cambria today. He might be a little disappointed. Fortunately the rest of the week, when he will be in LA, will be nice, and the real intent of his trip was to visit his son in Tahoe, who works at one of the ski resorts, and ski, so I know he's not complaining too much either. This weather will actually...

Stop the stupidity!

Rural medical center (in Georgia) suspended from vaccination program after inoculating school district staff. Give me a break! Trying to get kids back to school, while protecting teachers, bus drivers and other staff, is exactly what school districts should be doing. If they have vaccines, give them out. We should be giving out vaccines to all who want them, whenever available. Trying to adhere to rigid guidelines will only result in fewer people getting vaccines, resulting in the discarding of precious vaccines, and less protection for everyone. Of course we should be giving first priority to healthcare workers, and any other essential public service employees, such as policeman, fireman, etc. first, but when they're not around to receive shots, or refuse shots, then give them to anyone willing to take them. What I would have objected to is the medical center trying to capitalize on the pandemic to make a profit, from giving vaccines to people far down the list of recipients, but ...