How to pay for Gleevec

[shimmer]

My mom was just diagnosed with spindle cell cancer-GIST. She is going to have the tumor taken out. Her oncologist said after the surgery she will be put on Gleevec. She is on Medicare. The prescription coverage is outrageous for Gleevec to be considered. I am in tears. I have read it is $4000 a month for it. How do others afford this? She doesn't qualify for any help. Please we just got the news it is a pretty easy to take out and Gleevec will kill the rest. I am in tears. I am going to end up with an ulcer by the time this is done :(

[emmisme]

I had the same anxiety you have when the pharmacy quoted me $2400 for a 30 day supply of Gleevec for my mom and she does have insurance. If you haven't found assistance for the Gleevec yet, a moderator directed me to this link:

http://rare-cancer.org/medicine-assistance.html

I applied for assistance with Novartis, the manufacturer of Gleevec. My mom now receives her meds in the mail FREE. Their link is:

http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/about ... llment.jsp

Click on the box that says "Enrollment Process" for Gleevec and you will get a PDF enrollment form to be filled out by you and your mom's oncologist. Good luck!