I have Lupus and Scleroderma and my spouse has GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) stage 4. This is is a very rare cancer affecting the digestive tract or nearby structures within the abdomen. He was diagnosed in 2004 and the tumor was removed only for the cancer to return in 2006 and spread to the colon and liver. He started taking Gleevec 800mg at the rate of $9,000 per month for each prescription. A lot of doctors do not tell patients of this miracle drug (due to cost) thinking a lot of people could not afford it which I feel is so wrong. Each individual should be given the option to know about Gleevec and given the opportunity to decide whether they can afford it or not. Gleevec does work and will hold the cancer BUT ONLY works in these organs. GIST is chemo/radiation resistant so we went with the Gleevec by refinancing our home. The thing about this medication that gets me so upset is that in South America this medication is FREE due to the price we in the states … [Read more...]