The Cholesterol Update:
Back in August I posted an optimistic blog entitled, "Reading Between the Lines":
I wrote, enthusiastically, about getting to re-start a cholesterol lowering medication. My targeted chemotherapy has been working long enough that I didn't want to forget about other health issues. Who knows, maybe there's a possibility that I may live long enough to worry about cardiovascular consequences of untreated high cholesterol. So, in August, I started on a low dose of atorvastatin, (generic Lipitor), with the idea that we'd monitor my lipids and liver enzymes and make any needed adjustments. I was feeling pretty damn cocky that I got to start back on atorvastatin.
A couple weeks ago I had follow-up blood tests to check my lipid profile and liver enzymes. Great news! My lipid profile was completely normal. My cholesterol value, (which is usually in the mid-200's when on medication and in the 300's when off of medication,) was 162. But, my liver enzymes were abnormally high. Crap. My cholesterol was low because I was knocking out my liver. So...I'm off atorvastatin. Crap...again.
and The Clarification:
My last post had some information that I had misunderstood. Thank you to my fellow ROS1 cancer ninja friends, Tori and Janet, for correcting my understanding about our medication, Xalkori.
Xalkori has not yet been FDA fast-tracked nor approved for ROS1-positive lung cancer. It is still in clinical trials and is being used "off label" for ROS1 patients based on the available data for a similar mutation called ALK. The recent New England Journal of Medicine's article presented data for its use with ROS1-positive patients, which is a step toward getting Xalkori approved by the FDA for ROS1-positive lung cancer. This is really an important article. With this data, insurance companies will have more trouble denying coverage for it.
My last post had some information that I had misunderstood. Thank you to my fellow ROS1 cancer ninja friends, Tori and Janet, for correcting my understanding about our medication, Xalkori.
Xalkori has not yet been FDA fast-tracked nor approved for ROS1-positive lung cancer. It is still in clinical trials and is being used "off label" for ROS1 patients based on the available data for a similar mutation called ALK. The recent New England Journal of Medicine's article presented data for its use with ROS1-positive patients, which is a step toward getting Xalkori approved by the FDA for ROS1-positive lung cancer. This is really an important article. With this data, insurance companies will have more trouble denying coverage for it.
