Re: The dangers associated with taking a Gleevec break

[Guest guest]

For some reason, the link that I posted doesn't seem to work so here

is another one that shows the abstract incase anyone wants to see it:

http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=15224366

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've been debating whether or not to post this because I don't want

> to scare anyone unnecessarily. The last thing I want to do is

scare

> people, especially those who are already a little worried but I do

> want to emphasize how important it is to have a doctor that knows

> their stuff and how important it is to understand the risks

involved

> in the decisions we take.

>

> There have been lots of people who have taken Gleevec breaks. Some

> of these people had no choice but to take a break because they

either

> had very low counts or some other issue that warranted the

temporary

> break. There have also been people who have taken voluntary breaks

> which were against their doctors advice.

>

> For most of the people that have taken breaks, there haven't been

any

> negative repercussions and I want to stress that, especially for

> those who had little or no choice when taking their break however I

> do want to mention that there are risks involved in taking breaks

> which is why many doctors are now using blood cell boosters to

raise

> low counts when possible which avoids some of the risks that a

> Gleevec break can cause.

>

> I have an abstract

> ( http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-

> bin/abstract/109084458/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1 & SRETRY=0 ) that shows how

> two patients went into blast crisis after taking a 2 week break

from

> Gleevec which demonstrates the risk pretty strongly I would say but

> again, I'm not posting this to scare anyone, just to inform you

that

> there are options and there are risks with everything we do.

>

> Take care,

> Tracey

> dx Jan 2002

>

[Guest guest]

Tracey:

This is not scary, this is being informed. Thanks for sending it. I am one

of those who took a break, out of necessity. I have to go to see my

oncologist today, so I will print out that information and give it to him.

Thanks for your post.

With warm regards,

Matt

ville, FL

DX January of 2005

Gleevec Since May 2005

Father of 3

mtmaynor@...

In a message dated 1/16/2007 3:14:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

traceyincanada@... writes:

Hi Everyone,

I've been debating whether or not to post this because I don't want

to scare anyone unnecessarily. The last thing I want to do is scare

people, especially those who are already a little worried but I do

want to emphasize how important it is to have a doctor that knows

their stuff and how important it is to understand the risks involved

in the decisions we take.

There have been lots of people who have taken Gleevec breaks. Some

of these people had no choice but to take a break because they either

had very low counts or some other issue that warranted the temporary

break. There have also been people who have taken voluntary breaks

which were against their doctors advice.

For most of the people that have taken breaks, there haven't been any

negative repercussions and I want to stress that, especially for

those who had little or no choice when taking their break however I

do want to mention that there are risks involved in taking breaks

which is why many doctors are now using blood cell boosters to raise

low counts when possible which avoids some of the risks that a

Gleevec break can cause.

I have an abstract

( _http://www3.http://www3.http://wwwhttp_

(http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-)

bin/abstract/bin/abstrabin/abstrbin/abst & <WBR>SRETRY=0 ) that shows

two patients went into blast crisis after taking a 2 week break from

Gleevec which demonstrates the risk pretty strongly I would say but

again, I'm not posting this to scare anyone, just to inform you that

there are options and there are risks with everything we do.

Take care,

Tracey

dx Jan 2002