Guest guest Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 I don't remember if you answered this question already but did you only have one BMB at dx and none since? New patients should have them done every 3 months until they reach PCRU. I am sure your doctor knows what he is doing, but remember this... Not all doctors are yet familiar with patients being involved with their own care, having knowledge about their diseases and making decisions for their self. Especially when they find out we've been on the internet? It took a while (almost 2 yrs) for my primary Oncologist to get use to me " negotiating with him " that's what we call it so that neither of us feel like were in that power struggle. After that he declared me his favorite patient. He explained how nice it was to have a patient who had enough knowledge to share with him so that we could decide on things together. He said it relieved a lot of stress for him not to worry about me like he does his other patients. In the trial stages of gleevec everyone was skeptical even with such promising results. He and Moffitt Cancer center pushed me harder than I wanted to be pushed for a BMT. Obviously I opted to wait for gleevec regardless of their opinion. Just last year on my 6the anniversary I asked him while he was doing my annual BMB " hindsight " if you were me would you have made the choices I made? Very quietly he whispered " I don't know. but I would wish that I did. I have another doctor too at Moffitt. Very well known.I trust him and I like him, but he sometimes is over confident and I feel like he's just blowing me off to be in control. Like the pushy sales guy who knows it all, but could care less how much his customer knows. I take this personal sometimes because it feels like he's trying to make me feel like an idiot because he's the doctor and I'm not. Maybe it's just me and my own personality but none the less that's how I feel with him. My other Oncologist had a bit of a time adjusting, but never made me feel less than. I'm telling you this because if you haven't had another biopsy since your initial dx, you should and he should know this not to mention you do have the right to make the decision for yourself. The increase in your WBC's doesn't have to mean that you've become resistant to gleevec, but the BMB can tell a lot more than a simple CBC. Besides its time to have one again if you haven't already and WE know it's best to be proactive :-) ez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 , sorry for the slow reply on the BMB. I had been out of town. I have not had another BMB and am at the 100 day mark of the Dx. I see the Onc in one week. He had a blood test sent off to determine how much of the Ph chromosome I have in my system. I really did not understand it all. But, seemed like he knew what he is doing. Also, stated from the beginning he worked with Dr Druker in past years and knows him, confers, seems like he knows what he is doing. The center I go to in Pensacola is very well respected. When I asked about the BMB, he said, not yet. I will quiz him on that at the next appt, not that I enjoyed the first one all that much. In fact, the BMB made me sort of look forward to the spinal tap! ha Chris ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Thanks for the input on the BMB timing! I am SO new to this and trying to figure out the right path to go down. I do trust him and me seems to know what he is talking about and is well versed in CML and know I am not his only CML patient. Chris ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Chris A BMB is not recommended until the 6 month mark after starting Gleevec so your doc is not out of line. It could be done before that but there has not been a lot of studies on looking at results at an earlier time frame so you doctor would not have anything to compare to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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