An Explanation of My Husband's Disease and Treatment--Easy Enough Even for the Brilliant Minds at CIGNA to Understand!

UCLA Santa Monica Hematology-Oncology
Practice’s new state-of-the-art infusion center. 

This is where Paul went for his chemotherapy.

 

A definition of my husband's disease from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society:

Progressive-relapsing MS (PRMS) is the least common of the four disease courses, occurring in approximately 5% or so of people with MS. Like those with primary-progressive MS (PPMS), people with PRMS experience disease progression from the very beginning — but they experience occasional relapses (also called attacks or exacerbations) as well .
Because PRMS is progressive from onset, the doctor may initially diagnose it as PPMS, subsequently changing the diagnosis to PRMS when a relapse occurs. Although this disease course is progressive from the outset, each person’s symptoms and rate of progression will be different.

And what, exactly, is Multiple Sclerosis?  More from National MS Society.org's website:

Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease.

How is Multiple Sclerosis diagnosed?

In order to make a diagnosis of MS, the physician must:

• Find evidence of damage in at least two separate areas of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves AND
• Find evidence that the damage occurred at least one month apart AND
• Rule out all other possible diagnoses

How is Multiple Sclerosis treated?

Although there is still no cure for MS, effective strategies are available to modify the disease course, treat exacerbations (also called attacks, relapses, or flare-ups), manage symptoms, improve function and safety, and provide emotional support. In combination, these treatments enhance the quality of life for people living with MS.

My husband's disease modifying agent is now Copaxone.  It is injected daily. He is also on other medications for his neuropathic pain. Why did Paul have to have chemotherapy?  From National MS Society:

Multiple sclerosis involves immune-system attacks on the brain and spinal cord. The partially effective therapies available for treating MS focus on modulating these immune attacks. Wholesale immune suppression is also sometimes used in attempts to treat aggressive MS.

See that last part there, CIGNA?  Treat aggressive MS. Paul's chemotherapy was over the course of 5 months, with the last two doses of Cytoxan given 3 weeks apart.  How does Cytoxan work?

Cytoxan is part of a group of medications called alkylating agents. The medication itself is not active against cancer, but it is metabolized by the liver into its active form. The active form causes "cross-linking" of DNA cells. When DNA is cross-linked, it can no longer function properly. Since DNA is essential for cells to grow and multiply, alkylating medications prevent cell growth and multiplication, and may cause cell death.

While Cytoxan can kill both healthy and cancerous cells, it has a greater effect on cells that are multiplying rapidly. Generally, cancer cells multiply more rapidly than healthy cells and are, therefore, more affected by the drug.

Cytoxan also suppresses the immune system, which is probably how it works to treat nephrotic syndrome.

So Cytoxan supresses the immune system, which we know in Multple Sclerosis is over-active and in my husband's case of MS, particularly over-active and aggressive to the point of debilitating him.

Now, CIGNA, how did you come up with the absurd lies you came up with in your 2 letters of denial?  Links are on the right--please read them.

Oh wait, you made it all up so you didn't have to pay our family our long-term disability benefits.  Mr. H. Edward Hanway, CEO of CIGNA--how do you sleep at night?  And you poor fools Twittering for CIGNA, if you really believe what happened to us can't happen to you, think again.  This country needs reform and we need it now.