My Lip: Epilogue

My lip healed fully, with some scarring that I could feel and could barely see.  With that milestone I was ready for chemotherapy:  Fluoroplex.  I shuffled down to the neighborhood King Soopers with my prescription and insurance card in hand.  An little bit after placing my order King Soopers called (I was still in the store) to say that my insurance would not cover the cost and that the retail price was $375.  I prepared myself to call the insurance company the next day and wade through the voice-system prompts.

I checked the Internet for Fluroplex:  perhaps there would be a cheaper generic.  In stumbled upon a coupon allowing me to purchase for $10, which was probably my co-pay anyway.  Very strange.  Imagine going to a yard sale where the owner is selling a lawn mower with a listed price of $37.50.  You say, "I'll give you one dollar for that lawn mower".  The owner replies, "Sure".  Same ratio.

Like most chemotherapy, the medicine kills cancer kills but also kills normal cells, too.  (Think of hair loss for cancer patients.)  So, my lip is scabbed and bleeding, I'm taking ibuprofen, and I'm unhappy.