



http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14944098/ns/nbc_nightly_news_with_brian_williams/t/cancer-docs-profit-chemotherapy-drugs/



How do I know this? My mother's oncologist of two years (she did not require a treatment for her condition in the beginning and they were just watching the numbers) dropped her immediately when she could not tolerate the medicine.



While taking the latest and greatest chemo therapy drugs that cost $13,000 a month and a good portion had to be paid by a charity, it dropped her blood count so drastically she was hospitalized four times in two months for blood transfusions, and then was left bedridden because she no longer had the strength to walk. Her immune system was completely wiped out and she got pneumonia and a series of various serious infections. Her doctor would not visit her in the hospital even though it was across the street from his office. When I spoke to him about this drastic change in her health in two months--during which her cancer markers did not change and were not life threatening--he warned that she would be dead within 6 months if she didn't proceed with the medication. He would not lower the dose or change the prescription as this was the only medication available for multiple myeloma.



Regardless, we decided to stop the medication because it was killing her. I had done quite a bit of research and apparently this medication was not easily tolerated and had a higher than 40% drop out rate. Her oncologist refused to treat her from that day forward. She lived bedridden for two years in hospice care at her home. During that time, her cancer markers improved. She died from sepsis because her immune system was completely wiped out. She did not die of cancer.



So this is a cautionary tale. Up until that time, her oncologist, part of an oncology group with two locations, had been great. But once the revenue was shut down, my mother no longer mattered. And yes, the entire experience of cruel, greedy, and uncaring doctors has completely tainted my view. I also learned that nurses and hospice workers are some of the kindest and most helpful people I have ever met.



Money out of medicine should be a top priority. Some oncologists make up to 75% of their revenue from the administration of chemo and other therapies. And the markup on the drugs is very large. Who wants to bet that this is not happening anywhere else?How do I know this? My mother's oncologist of two years (she did not require a treatment for her condition in the beginning and they were just watching the numbers) dropped her immediately when she could not tolerate the medicine.While taking the latest and greatest chemo therapy drugs that cost $13,000 a month and a good portion had to be paid by a charity, it dropped her blood count so drastically she was hospitalized four times in two months for blood transfusions, and then was left bedridden because she no longer had the strength to walk. Her immune system was completely wiped out and she got pneumonia and a series of various serious infections. Her doctor would not visit her in the hospital even though it was across the street from his office. When I spoke to him about this drastic change in her health in two months--during which her cancer markers did not change and were not life threatening--he warned that she would be dead within 6 months if she didn't proceed with the medication. He would not lower the dose or change the prescription as this was the only medication available for multiple myeloma.Regardless, we decided to stop the medication because it was killing her. I had done quite a bit of research and apparently this medication was not easily tolerated and had a higher than 40% drop out rate. Her oncologist refused to treat her from that day forward. She lived bedridden for two years in hospice care at her home. During that time, her cancer markers improved. She died from sepsis because her immune system was completely wiped out. She did not die of cancer.So this is a cautionary tale. Up until that time, her oncologist, part of an oncology group with two locations, had been great. But once the revenue was shut down, my mother no longer mattered. And yes, the entire experience of cruel, greedy, and uncaring doctors has completely tainted my view. I also learned that nurses and hospice workers are some of the kindest and most helpful people I have ever met.Money out of medicine should be a top priority.