I saw your message on our Facebook page but will answer you here as others may have the same question.
Mitromyacin is manufactured primarily by only two companies in the US Accord Healthcare and Bedford labs a subsidiary of Boehringer. It's cost has steadily increased in the last year and the reason is unclear. There is some speculation as to one companies accusation cost and the cost increase happened as BCG availability was limited. Compounding these cost increases is the fact that Medicare part B has set a limit to what it will pay meaning health care providers are losing money as they are paying more for it than they are being repaid.
Here are a few articles that talk about drug shortage and costs. This is not a new situation and is a tangled web that has to do with drug liability for generic drugs, cost of production, limited number of companies producing the products do to reduced profitability of generic drugs, aging facilities, cost of adhering to FDA regulations.....and the list goes on.
This situation goes far beyond bladder cancer every year there are hundreds of drugs on shortage lists many of them used in the treatment of cancer. Sterile injectable's are at high risk of manufacturing failure, as are biologicals compounding the impact to our community. This situation has been intensifying since the early 2000's and some headway is being made but far from enough. The solution will not happen overnight but know that there is enough light on this situation that the powers that be know it is not going away.
AUA Drug Shortages and Price Increases
www.auanet.org/press-media/drugs-for-urologic-conditions.cfm
Health Affairs Drug shortages driven by complex market conditions
www.healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief.php?brief_id=124
Now having said all of that how does this information help you? It tells you that you are not the first or the last facing a problem with needed drugs being caught in the system making them cost prohibitive or unavailable.
The first thing is to find out if your insurance will pay for it through a compounding pharmacy. You said you had gotten a second opinion from MSK have you asked them about costs and availability at their facility? Have you asked them if there might be an alternative to Mitromyacin due to the cost?
I know this probably doesn't help you solve your problem. But I wanted to give you an answer that told you that you were being heard. I know you are frustrated as are the cancer advocates that have spent years pounding on doors. Any one that knows me has heard me say"if this was Viagra the problem would have been solved in a day".
Welcome to our community and please keep us updated.
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