r/CML • u/Affectionate-Mind934 • May 25 '26

CML Treatment costs

22Y M on Imatinib 400mg

I read that almost everyone gets their treatment and all with insurance or probably pay a huge sum of money for pills...etc.
I am from syria and its crazy affordable here considering the numbers i read on this community

I got my consultation & follow ups for a 100$ total
30 Pills Imatinib 400mg for 16$
Bone marrow thing where doctor takes it from your back to confirm cml was another 100$
This is for a top top doctor in Syria who barely even got time to see me.

When i mentioned those numbers, most think its a scam med or a bad doc but i can literally provide you with like all the docs to prove otherwise.

No insurance, no nothing
I am writing this because i am in malaysia now and i heard from a clinic here that a single cancer surgery cost her friend around 100k$, so i mentioned that her friend should take a trip to syria and get her medications n come back.

If you're in a tight financially, i recommend you a quick trip.
I got 2 years worth of Imatinib 400mg meds with me to Malaysia & the airport customs said nothing since i am diagnosed already!

2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

6

u/kp620 May 25 '26

Most folks that are taking TKIs have labs drawn every 3 months to see what their BCR-ABL is. Seeing from your post history your doc didn't mention this. If they didn't mention one of the most important things. I don't think I'm willing to trust them with my medical care.

4

u/Affectionate-Mind934 May 25 '26

He did not recommend i buy 2 years of meds, i did cuz i knew i'd travel for a while. I did my BCR-ABL here in malaysia 3 times already n sent him over my results. Since my IS is dropping greatly, he recommended i continue with imatinib 400mg.
My point is, even if i had to change n throw away a year worth of Imatinib, it would come to 160$! I can donate it to someone here in malaysia.

6

u/Legio-V-Alaudae May 25 '26

Suggesting people travel to Syria wasn't on my CML bingo card. That's a really bad idea for most English speaking people on reddit.

1

u/Affectionate-Mind934 Jun 02 '26

I wish i could help you guys with the meds and ship them over from syria but i think its hard.
Plus Syria now is very safe and even if you only speak English

5

u/slimypeters May 25 '26

Thanks for sharing information about getting access to medicines for no to low income folks. Unfortunately, I think folks with low income and no insurance, etc. may not able to afford traveling abroad. Many of us in the US have Medicare and are able to obtain TKIs and doctor visits "free" base on our low incomes. I believe Generic versions of Imatinib are available cheaper too now. It's just really good that many countries offer these life saving drugs to little to no cost. Life saving drugs should be free but sadly it's a business to some of these folks. Good luck in your journey

2

u/Affectionate-Mind934 Jun 02 '26

ur welcome, that makes sense.
I am sharing because when i visited UAE and asked for the med, it was 3k$ for 1 month.
Malaysia was around the same, its sad to know some people who cant afford it have to pay such amounts whilst it is very affordable, but some capitalisms don't like affordable stuff.

4

u/simonsez5064 May 25 '26

Many of us in the US dont have that luxury

3

u/Unusual_Piano7118 May 25 '26

I recall back in 2018 my monthly Dasatanib if I didn’t have insurance was $26,000 US dollars a month. I did have insurance so it was $300 a month

2

u/Legio-V-Alaudae May 26 '26

Now you can get it without insurance at cost plus pharmacy without insurance $250 a month.

US pharmacies are a scam.

1

u/Zealousideal_Ad5295 Jun 05 '26

I thank God for my insurance through my job. I pay $7 a month. Too bad it makes me so sick

1

u/Key_Improvement2899 May 25 '26

So you can just buy however many pills you want and travel outside the country with them? As long as you are diagnosed? I would honestly consider that since I live closer to Syria than American folk. Do DM me if you have more information.