3 Generations

I just love this picture. Brynn got her haircut for the first time last week at Alto Capelli Salon. Sue, Mom and I have been getting our haircut by Stephanie for 20 years. Sue and Steph have been friends since Junior High School. Anyways, Mom went to watch Brynn getting her haircut and took pictures as well. She handed the camera to Stephanie to take this wonderful picture of Sue, Brynn and Mom. Mom's hair is coming back (and those of you taking bets on the grey or white will win!) and she is feeling more confident not wearing her hats out to places where she feels comfortable.

Mom is still dealing with the insurance companies and drug companies, but that will be updated for another blog posting.

More Photos from the Cheering Section

Pauline was in her element cheering on the walkers of the 3-Day Susan G. Komen race last Saturday morning. We stood next to a couple from Chicago. The gentleman in the dress is a 60mile man. He was even in a calendar that Susan G. Komen put out for men you walk these walks. He and his wife have been walking in these walks for years for her grandmother who is a 36 year survivor. He usually walks in some sort of costume from Wonder Woman to Lady Gaga. He chose a lovely pink number to be a cheerleader for the Cleveland race. His wife shaved her head in support of her best friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Just watching the looks that he received from the walkers was the best. Pauline loved him! :-) It was great seeing Pauline so enthusiastic!

Cheering on Amy during the 3-Day Walk

Just the picture today. Waiting to get mom's camera to download a few more from the cheering section. 6 weeks until Race for the Cure 5K walk!

Cheering for Walkers

Mom and I were part of the cheering section for walkers in the 3 Day 60 mile Susan G. Komen walk Saturday morning. A participant in the walk, Amy Miller Crandall, and I went to high school together and reconnected on facebook a few years ago. She lost her mother to breast cancer and is doing everything that she can to prevent that from happening to other people. She said that she would add Pauline's name to the list of people that she is walking for. So, mom and I went to see her at one of the cheering section to give her big hugs and lots of encouragement. We were cheering for all of the walkers as they went by us. We met a couple who are part of the staff and they around to all of the walks and cheer, help or walk themselves. The husband was a hoot. I will post pictures after I get them off of Mom's camera. Mom just seemed to really enjoy herself in this situation. She was cheering walkers on, talking to people. She was in her element! I was so proud!

Happy 46th Anniversary Herb and Pauline!

WOW! My parents have been married for 46 years. In just a few hours, Sue and I will take them out to dinner to celebrate this special day. It is something that we will celebrate even more after everything that we have been through in the past 8 months. It's been a trying year, but Mom and Dad have made it through it together!

Mom continues on her road to recovery. Her hair is beginning to come back. Did you take bets which color it would come back as? She is walking a bit every day to help build up her energy. She is in training for the 5K Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. I know that with all of the support of the team members, she will do it. And speaking of team members for Pauline's Posse, the team is growing! Thank you! Also, thanks to everyone who has donated so far!!

Mom is still battling the insurance companies about the generic brand for Arimidex and now she received word that her insurance company wasn't going to cover the Onctotype DX test that was performed on her tumor after her mastectomy! The insurance company "lost" the paperwork that was sent by her surgeon and her oncologist! So, now Mom will be going through appeal one for this test. The test without the insurance is $4,500!!! With her insurance covering it, the cost to mom is $75.00. It is just incredible that nearly 7 months after the surgery and completing the treatment, the test was not covered? I wonder if this happens to every patient like my mom? Now it is waiting to hear back from the insurance company. Next is the battle for a lower cost on the Arimidex generic. It is never ending......

The Runaround

Mom is still in the middle of the "runaround" with her Arimidex prescription. She received her monthly supply from Diplomat late last week. Instead of it being the generic that she thought it would be, she received the Arimidex again. This is just more and more confusing. The "generic" that she recieved from the regular pharmacy, anastrozole,is the same thing as the arimidex. I believe that the one is the active ingredient of the other. If I'm confused and my mom is confused, can you imagine how people who don't really pay attention to the costs and the drugs are fairing? Mom went to her pharmacy for other prescriptions today and checked on the cost of the arimidex "generic" and it was now up to $377.00 for a 30 day supply! Now that is just a bit over $130 less than what it would cost for the regular drug. Not much of a savings yet is it?

Other than having to deal with all of this craziness, Mom has been having many more good days than bad days. Yesterday, wasn't a good day for mom as she was suffering from lots of nausea from the Arimidex. However, she is feeling much better today. This must come in waves for her. Once her body gets used to the drug, then she can get her other medications under control. Slow progress, but the prospects are looking better and better!

Really???

I know, it's been awhile since I've posted an update on the blog. Actually, that would be a good thing, as it means that Pauline is chugging her way along to recovery. And, I'm happy to say that she is slowly getting back to her usual routine. She is slowly getting her energy back. These are all good things that I am very happy for.

However, it is taking Mom's body longer to get used to the arimidex. She has been getting nausea every early afternoon since she started the drug. Thankfully, she still had some anti-nausea pills from her chemotherapy. These seem to be helping the nausea. Mom said that the nausea was actually worse than what she felt during her chemotherapy. She felt like she had morning sickness. The oncologist said that it will take about 60-90 days for her body to get used to the drug. Other than that, the side effects have thankfully been minor.

We thought that she was all set with the $25.00 a month from Diplomat for the arimidex. She was officially approved for that going forward last month. However, yesterday, she received a call from them saying that there is now a generic version of the active ingredient in arimidex, anastrazole. Since there is a generic available, Diplomat will now not cover the arimidex. Mom's insurance company won't cover the generic at the moment, because it is so new, it isn't in their drug tier program. So, where does that leave mom and the cost of the drug? She is up-in-the air at the moment. I can't find alot of research on the generics yet, since it is so new. What I have found is that the generics are only slightly less cost than the brand name. How does that help my mom out with the cost of the drugs? Not much. So, now, she is back to working with the oncology nurse, the insurance company and the drug store to figure out something. That is why the name of the blog is "Really???" I just can't believe all that she (and I know that it isn't just her, but millions out there) has to go through to get the treatment that she needs. It's so frustrating!!