Does the VA supply casodex

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Wick - 19 Sep 2007 00:32 GMT

Does any one have experience as whether or not the VA will supply casodex ?
I did have VA approval for this drug about 5 years ago, then my oncologist
took me off. It looks like I will have to go back to this prescription and
I am concerned about the cost.. Your help will be most appreciated. Many
thanks.

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Jim Smith - 19 Sep 2007 02:15 GMT

>Does any one have experience as whether or not the VA will supply casodex ?
>I did have VA approval for this drug about 5 years ago, then my oncologist
>took me off. It looks like I will have to go back to this prescription and
>I am concerned about the cost.. Your help will be most appreciated. Many
>thanks.

I can't specifically tell you whether it's difficult to get approved
or not, but I am a pharmacist in one of the VA "mail-out" pharmacies
that mails precriptions to vets in a large multi-state area, and I can
tell you that we dispense Casodex every day.

As a prostate cancer patient myself, I've been impressed with the
quality, up-to-date manner in which the VA docs seem to utilize
androgen deprivation.

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I.P. Freely - 19 Sep 2007 22:59 GMT

> "I am a pharmacist in one of the VA "mail-out" pharmacies
> that mails precriptions to vets in a large multi-state area, and I can
> tell you that we dispense Casodex every day.

But will the VA prescribe or provide Casodex as monotherapy (efficacy
aside)? They could not three years ago because Casodex monotherapy was
not yet approved in the U.S.

I.P.

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Jim Smith - 20 Sep 2007 02:00 GMT

>But will the VA prescribe or provide Casodex as monotherapy (efficacy
>aside)? They could not three years ago because Casodex monotherapy was
>not yet approved in the U.S.
>
>I.P.

I don't know, but I see dosages of 150 mg daily, which I assume is
monotherapy.

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Steve Kramer - 19 Sep 2007 15:38 GMT

> Does any one have experience as whether or not the VA will supply casodex
> ? I did have VA approval for this drug about 5 years ago, then my
> oncologist took me off. It looks like I will have to go back to this
> prescription and I am concerned about the cost.. Your help will be most
> appreciated. Many thanks.

Hi, Wick.

You posted one other time about your 1995 EBRT. But, you never gave us any
more information. Of course, you may have posted before I came here in
2001.

So, I'm curious. Were you in Vietnam? If so, did you check out the
government paying for your treatment of PCa? I think it was Clinton who
directed that all veterans exposed to Agent Orange were to be treated
without cost, or very little cost. I'm sure Curtis will pipe up here and
give the details.

In any case, tell us about your cancer, please.

Signature

PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA <0.04, <0.05, <0.04 (06/12/2007)
Non Illegitimi Carborundum

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c palmer - 19 Sep 2007 19:34 GMT

So, I'm curious. Were you in Vietnam? If so, did you check out the
government paying for your treatment of PCa? I think it was Clinton who
directed that all veterans exposed to Agent Orange were to be treated
without cost, or very little cost. I'm sure Curtis will pipe up here and
give the details.

===> ok, i'll chime in.... the VA did treat me for my pca and didn't
charge me a penny. even when i filed for agent orange compensation
afterwards, the VA said that i wasn't in vietnam and denied my claim.

it took me over two years of hard fighting with the VA to get them to
admit that i was in vietnam (i don't understand that one) but during the
whole time of the dispute, i never paid anything for my follow ups.

in fact, after 4 years later - i still travel to VA hospital in the next
state over for my post surgery prostate follow ups. they are not
handled by the local VA clinic.

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc

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Floomer - 19 Sep 2007 21:33 GMT

I'm sorry about the confusion. My first name is Fenwick, so friends call me
"Wick". I served in WW2 in the navy and I am 80 YOA. For those who are
interested I will summarize my cancer history as follows:

12/95 PSA 12.1 Gleason Grade 3/2 (total 5) Stage T2c
12/95 Bone Scan and CT negative
1/96-3/96 EBRT 6840 CgY
7/96 PSA 2.4
10/96 PSA 1.9
2/97 PSA 1.1
6/97 PSA 1.3
11/97 PSA 1.1
3/98 PSA 1.2
7/98 PSA 1.3
11/98 PSA 1.4
5/99 PSA 1.8
11/99 PSA 1.3
11/00 PSA 4.83
12/00 PSA 6.12
12/00 bone scan - negative
1/01 Biopsy - no malignancy
2/01 PSA 8.03
2/01 Began ADT 2 - Lupron + Casodex 50 mg
6/01 PSA 0.1
9/01 PSA 0.1
1/02 PSA 0.1
3/02 PSA 0.1
2/02 Stopped Casodex - but continued Lupron
5/02 PSA 0.1
9/02 PSA 0.1
12/02 PSA 0.1
Stopped Lupron 4/03 and went on intermittent
4/03 PSA 0.1
6/03 PSA 0.1
11/03 PSA 0.2
1/04 PSA 0.3
5/04 PSA 0.6
8/04 PSA 1.1
10/04 PSA 2.3
1/05 PSA 3.8
Started Lupron again .2/05
4/05 PSA 0.1
Stopped Lupron
7/05 PSA 0.1
10./05 PSA 0.2
1/06 PSA 2.8
3/06 PSA 5.2
3/06 PSA 6.1
Started Lupron 3/06
6/06 PSA 0.3
9/06 PSA 0.3
11/06 PSA 0.6
2/07 PSA 0.7
5/07 PSA 0.7
Stopped Lupron 5/07
8/07 PSA 1.1

My oncologist told me that the next step would be to restart Casodex. All
things considered I am a very happy guy. Married 59 years to a person I
adore. I have a strong faith and believe that God is in charge of my life
and I am here to serve him. I take a number of non-prescription drugs
hoping that something will do wonders. Peace and love to all you guys.
Fen Loomer
Does any one have experience as whether or not the VA will supply casodex ?
I did have VA approval for this drug about 5 years ago, then my oncologist
took me off. It looks like I will have to go back to this prescription and
I am concerned about the cost.. Your help will be most appreciated. Many
thanks.

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Steve Kramer - 21 Sep 2007 21:09 GMT

> I'm sorry about the confusion.

No apology necessary.

> I served in WW2 in the navy

Thank you, Wick, for your service to our country!

> I will summarize my cancer history as follows:

That was fantastic! Thank you for that. We have very few histories of
failure and intermittent ADT. Very interesting. I would very much welcome
long term ADT and IADT.

> I have a strong faith and believe that God is in charge of my life and I
> am here to serve him.

I honestly don't know how some guy here survive with out that.

Signature

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michi98 - 23 Sep 2007 12:06 GMT

THE VA CHARGES $8.00 FOR MEDS OF 30 DAY SUPPLY.YES I DO BELIEVE THEY DO
SUPPLY CASODEX.DON'T TAKE IT ALONE.TAKE IT WITH LUPRONE 7.5 MG OR HIGHER.A
STUDY DONE IN CANADA ON CASSODEX ALONE AT 150MG DAILY RESULTED IN DEATH.
THE RULE IS TWO WEEKS OF 50MG CASSODEX PRIOR TO GETTING THE LUPRON SHOT.IF
NOT YOU GET A SPIKE OF TESTOSTERONE WHICH FEEDS THE CANCER.

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