PCRU!

[Guest guest]

Dear Listmates:

I have had great news. I got the results of my latest BMB which was in mid July

and I am PCRU! It took me awhile to really believe that was what the test said,

but my doc's nurse has confirmed it. I have had and treasured my Zero Club

number for a while (#676 I think) and just want to encourage all of you to

continue to fight the good fight and to be proactive in managing your own

treatment plan. I beleive that the PCRU is not something that I have " earned "

because I know of many people on this list who deserve it more than I and if I

could have I would have given it to beautiful Jenn who just lost her struggle

and leaves a small son. But I also know that I feel empowered to fight this

disease through the grace of God.

In December of 03, when I was first diagnosed, I did some reading on the Web and

knew that I wanted to try to do 800 mg. of Gleevec. The local onc I saw at

first was not really sold, but when I insisted he agreed. Two months later I

began seeing Dr. Giles at MDACC on a consulting basis and he affirmed that I

should continue the 800 mg dosage since I had very few physical side effects and

would use ProCrit to manage the hemoglobin suppression. I currently take 60,000

mgs of ProCrit weekly in order to maintain my hemo at above 10. But it has

allowed me to faitfully take 800 mgs of Gleevec. So, here's to living better

(or at least living) through chemistry.

For those of you whose struggle has just begun, take heart. This is a disease

that can be managed. And unlike our brothers and sisters with other forms of

cancer, each day we hear of new drugs that promise control and perhaps

elimination of this disease. If I have any words of wisdon to share with you it

would be learn all you can about CML and it's treatment. This is your life, not

your doc's, not your spouse's, not your mom's. And just because someone is an

onc, doesn't mean that he or she knows a lot about CML. Don't rely on others to

keep track of your progress. Get copies of all your test results and keep track

of your own counts, and BMB results. And for heaven sakes, when you are

confused or depressed or have questions, just come on line and seek help from

your CML brothers and sister.

Cheers,

Kathie in Kentucky

--

--------- Re: New options for patients with CML

>

>

> In a message dated 9/12/2005 7:08:29 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> kisocean@... writes:

>

> explore.

>

> Dasatinib (BMS-354825) is a kinase inhibitor, and is 300 to 1000 times

> more potent than imatinib (gleevec) for inhibition of bcr-abl tyrosine

> kinase. Dasatinib is also an SRC inhibitor as well as an abl

> inhibitor. Dasatinib is orally bio-available and can be taken as an

>

>

>

> I was wondering about something. First, if BMS is greater than Gleevec, how

> come there are fewer side effects reported? And, I know we all hated taking

> IFN by injection. But I had a thought: has anyone taken Gleevec intravenously,

> by injection??? I am wondering if it would be better for those with

> stomach irritation due to Gleevec being taken by mouth. Think it would be an

> option? The beauty of Gleevec is that we can take it orally, but just

> wondering if

> it has ever been administered other ways.- Lynne A.

>

>

>