System.Func`1[System.String]

Patient Story: Program Provides Life-Changing Support for Patient with Breast Cancer

McKesson program provides financial savings for patient with breast cancer.

By McKesson Health Systems Editorial Team

Date

October 27, 2022

<span>Husband and wife talking with healthcare worker</span>

By: O'Mally Monahan

Read time: 3 minutes

Patient assistance programs offer patients life-changing benefits. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here is a story about a patient diagnosed with breast cancer who was able to save $20,000 and stay healthy thanks to McKesson’s support and advocacy.

Situation

In December 2018, Marcia Cortis was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer. Her doctors caught it early, but the road to recovery was still ahead. She wouldn’t need a typical chemotherapy treatment, but she did need Herceptin®, a therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer.

Marcia’s University of Missouri Health Care doctors set her up for treatment every three weeks with Herceptin. Not knowing the cost, Marcia followed her doctors’ orders.

Sticker Shock

At $48,000 a dose (before insurance), Herceptin is an expensive and important life-saving drug. While Marcia is covered under her Medicare Advantage plan, the resulting cost after each treatment — the amount she was responsible to pay—was $1,200.

Marcia was overwhelmed. “I told my doctors to stop the Herceptin. That’s when they mentioned McKesson’s Patient Assistance Program,” recalls Marcia.

Quick Action and Aid

Marcia was assigned a patient advocate from McKesson RxO’s Patient Assistance Program who would manage her case. The program helps health systems successfully secure financial aid, so patients stay healthy while making sure the pharmacy is still paid. In these situations, everyone benefits — the patient, the hospital, and the drug manufacturer.

“My McKesson patient advocate did all of the work to make sure I received the medication for free,” Marcia shared. The account manager worked with the Genentech Patient Foundation to get the right help for Marcia.

Due to the patient advocate’s diligence and quick action, Marcia didn’t even miss a dose. “It was pretty amazing! To receive help like this seems unbelievable. I didn’t really want to stop this particular drug because it addresses the type of aggressive breast cancer I have, but I saw no other way.”

Advocating for Each Patient

The McKesson patient advocate is responsible for enrolling patients into various assistance programs. They work with the hospital to identify eligible patients, gather their information in a HIPAA-compliant manner, and guide the patients through the enrollment process. They even ensure the drug arrives at the hospital and Marcia continues her treatment.

In total, the patient assistance program is saving Marcia about $20,000 this year, and helping Marcia stay healthy through her treatment.

“It means the difference between worrying every day about how I’m going to live financially and physically. If I had chosen to stop the treatment because of the financial hardship, I don’t know whether my outcome would be as good. I have a brighter outlook and peace of mind.”

Learn more about the McKesson RxO® patient assistance program here.

Click to learn how McKesson helps health systems achieve more.

Subscribe Now
To learn how McKesson can help health systems achieve more, sign up to have the Prescribed Perspectives newsletter delivered directly to your inbox.
Subscribe

Related Stories

Text asks if health systems can change perceptions of generic drugs, with two medicine bottles and a blurred pharmacy background.

Consider the four “P’s” of generic drugs that support the case for wider adoption of generics in the health system and beyond.

Read More

Checklist: 5 Questions to Ask When Evaluating Next Steps for Your Health System’s Infusion Strategy on blue background with checkmarks.

Download this checklist for an at-a-glance view of important considerations when modernizing your health system’s infusion service line.

Read More

A doctor and a woman in professional attire discuss a tablet in a medical setting; the doctor holds two boxes.

The most downloaded content by health system pharmacy leaders in August 2025.

Read More

Two healthcare professionals in scrubs walking, with the text 'Offsetting Labor and Resource Constraints in the Health System Pharmacy' overlaid.

With available labor resources dwindling and a shrinking pipeline, health systems must find creative solutions for better using the personnel and partnerships they have.

Read More

Cityscape with buildings reflecting sunlight, viewed across calm water at sunset.

At this year's event, our experts heard from health systems who may be underutilizing available tools and resources in 340B program management.

Read More

Aerial view of a city with the Tower of the Americas and buildings under a cloudy sky.

Click through this interactive experience for a closer look at what you can expect at this year’s HealthTrust University Conference.

"> Read More

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas, with the Torch of Friendship sculpture and buildings at sunset.

Our experts continue shaping industry conversations through regular conference and event engagements, like the HealthTrust University 340B Summit.

Read More

A person in a white coat holding a bottle, with the text 'Top Reads of July' overlaid on the image.

The most downloaded content by health system pharmacy leaders in July 2025.

Read More

Cell Gene Therapy

McKesson’s Head of Cell, Gene, and Advanced Therapies discusses opportunities and challenges with CGT in the health system.

Read More

Person in a white coat holding a green apple, with shelves of products blurred in the background.

This interactive experience highlights key aspects of our SPE solutions, designed to help your health system achieve more.

Read More