I just came back from seeing Dr. Druker in Portland, Oregon. After discussing that it only took 5 years to finally find the right mix for my system and seeing how great I look (barring the 30 pounds I gained), I asked him why he thought that Tasigna and Sprycel might be considered above Gleevec. He looked at me directly and said that patients and doctors are looking for the "quick" way to molecular remission. Apparently, this is foremost in everyone's minds...they are not looking at the long term side effects of the drugs.
There was something else I wanted to post but cannot remember what it was about...wil remember later. Hugs, Susan Susan Rosenthal Miami, Florida dx. January 8th, 2003 Began Gleevec: 4/10/2003 Ceased Gleevec: 4/21/2003 "Rebegan" Gleevec: 4/25/2003 Tranfusion dependent: May 2004-November 2005 Gleevec reduced to 400mg: 8/2004 Gleevec reduced to 300mg: 8/2005 Gleevec reduced to 200/300 alternating days: November 7, 2006 to present day except now I am taking 250 every day now... Still undetectable 9/24/2008 BMB/BMA PCRU!!! FISH 0% YEAH!!!!! Next appointment with Dr. Druker: Thursday,April 09, 2009 Gleevec PK Level taken every 3 months monitored by Novartis and Dr. Druker. PCR taken every 3 months! PCR-in June was a weak positive but Dr. Druker felt that it was the same as undetectable...repeated PCR in August 2008-undetectable!!! (BMB/BMA PCRU!!! FISH 0% YEAH!!!!!) I was told that I would not need another BMB as long as my numbers stay where they are!!! YIPEEEE! 3/2009 PCRU!!!! Yippee!!! Nested test not being done any longer at OHSU. 6/2009 PCRU!!!! Yippee!!! Counts on Gleevec PK went up a little bit...not too happy about that! This past October, my PCR was undetectable again!!! My Gleevec PK was a little raised in numbers but still okay...but I am getting some side effects AGAIN! This past March, 2010, I was "low traceable" which Dr. Druker says is the same as undetectable! June 2010-UNDETECTABLE!!! YEAH!!!! -- [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to CMLHope@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cmlhope-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope