[CMLHope] Renee

[Barb Stanley]

Hi Renee You have a great response!   I am 55 and diagnosed May 5, 2002.  I had the same basic diagnosis, gleevec dosage and result you had.  Your tests show you PCRU – or undetectable!  What good news.  When I was first diagnosed, my oncologist sent me to City of Hope for the testing to prepare for a transplant while putting me on Gleevec at the same time.  After we found some matches, and the more we learned about Gleevec, then one year old, the less he discussed it.  That is not even an option for me now, as long as my results stay the same. With Gleevec being the front line treatment and with a projected long term survival of 89%, my guess is that your doctor probably isn’t thinking you will need one! Meanwhile, you say, “I keep wondering when I will stop responding to gleevec” – Renee, think positive!  Maybe you won’t be one that stops responding?  They are in the minority. I would question a doctor who pressed for a transplant. Maybe he isn’t going to?  With Gleevec, and the new drugs coming down the pike, the likelihood of transplants get more and more remote for all of us!   I am four years out and been on Gleevec 4 years June 11, and I am still responding!  You will too!!  Positive thoughts! Barb in Arizona   == 1 of 2 == Date: Tues, Jun 6 2006 12:38 pm From: "Renee"    I am 41 years old.  I was diagnosed with CML 2 years ago.  In 2004, the cytogenetics test was positive for 19 of 20 cells and the FISH test was positve for 200 of 200 cells.  I went on 400mg of Gleevec daily and after 6 months increased to 600mg daily.   I have a lot of the same side effects as others:  nausea, diarrhea, muscle cramps, water retention, loss of appetite, some changes in my complexion and hair, lack of energy, acid reflux, etc...   In 2005, when I had my 2nd bone marrow biopsy, my cytogenetics test shows 0 of 20, FISH showed 0 of 200, and PCR showed 0 of 10,000 cells positive.  So after one year on Gleevec, I had what my doctor called an "excellent" remission of the CML.  I have to agree after reading some of the other posts.   I feel very fortunate to have responded so well to Gleevec.   My next bone marrow biopsy is coming up soon - June 22, 2006.   My oncologist has not said anything about testing any of my siblings (for compatibility) for possible bone marrow transplant.  In the back of my mind, I keep wondering when I will stop responding to the Gleevec or when my doctor is going to start pressing me toward getting the bone marrow transplant.   --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---