It’s been a while since my last update, which ultimately means things have been going well.
No more prednisone (for now), just Jakavi and Rezurock daily for the past year. This combination seems to make my skin happy. Below are a few photos of my biggest areas of concern. My chest/torso is no longer tight and I can breathe and move freely. Sure there are still days where I am uncomfortable in my skin but I’m in good health and that’s all that matters. It will never be perfect but then again who is?
After a visit with my Oncologist today he is suggesting I see a bone specialist due to my decreasing bone density despite taking the recommended calcium and vitamin D supplements. He did share some not so great news about my Jakavi. For the past 3 years this drug has been given to me and many other patients free of cost. The ministry has changed their guidelines and I, along with many other cancer survivors no longer qualify for the compassionate drug program. At the price of $87 per 10 mg tablet, the annual cost would be over $63,000 per year.
So I need a few things to happen in order to maintain this good streak. I need to secure a permanent full time position at my current job and hope the drug benefits I would receive will cover the cost. In the meantime I will finish my current supply and when that runs out, hope for the best. I’ve seen a great improvement with the more recent addition to my regimen, Rezurock. So heres to hoping I can be comfortable in my skin without the costly Jakavi.
One Day At A Time 