I am deciding to whether to stop taking Sprycel (20mg) in a month or so. We're looking into the insurance implications of stopping and instead testing monthly for PCR. They are willing to let me stop, but only if I have monthly PCR's.
Anyone know how much a PCR costs? It's not clear from my medical statements since the treatment cost is wrapped in. I don't know if my insurance will substitute monthly Sprycel for monthly PCR - that's the question I have asked. I have to think that one PCR is cheaper than one month's worth of Sprycel?
I suspect the insurance won't go for this even though it's cheaper for them - but I may pick up the difference since i am very interested in learning if my body can keep CML below detection without the need of Sprycel! That would be great. I expect that my blood counts would normalize (RBC's especially) so I am not as anemic.
Of course - this could be a pipe dream. But I am willing to take the risk. Worse case in one month, is my PCR goes up and I go back on Sprycel. Best case - I live month to month Sprycel free and healthy.