Re: HELP! CML and the Liver

[Guest guest]

Hi . Yes, it's my understanding that Gleevec can pose difficulties for

the liver. Everytime I get my blood counts tested, my doc tests my liver

functioning. I hope they are doing that for your too. FWIW, I don't see

an oncologist, I see a hematologist.

Your husband has been through a lot -- which means you have, too. Best to

both of you.

>From: " Cervera " <weez_555@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: [ ] HELP! CML and the Liver

>Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 20:33:18 +0000

>

>Hi all--

>I posted last week about my husband's growing (more noticeable) fatigue

>with

>Gleevec--400mg/day. He was diagnosed last July. Has hardly any side affects

>but last week or so has been alot more noticeably tired. THEN, 3 days ago,

>we ended up in the ER because he felt " tingly all over, tired, and

>nervous. "

>I must add that when my husband was diagnosed it was only due to the fact

>that he was experiencing " tingling and numbness " on his hands and

>face...after blood tests revealed his WBC of 449,000, they determined it

>was

>CML, and then found out he had a blood clot in his brain and that it was

>causing him to have a stroke. 3 brain surgeries later, blood clot was

>removed, he recovered from that, then we started the Gleevec ride. All in

>all, has been pretty OK.

>

>So, my husband called 9-1-1 Sat night cuz of the tingliness...it scared him

>because of his past neurological experiences. All in all, after 5 hours at

>the ER they chalked it up to a Panic Attack....all his vitals were fine,

>his

>blood counts all normal (WBC was 4.2 even - usually lingers around 3.5 or

>so). We even did new brain scans (CT Scans), those, too...all normal.

>

>He had a routine appt today with his onc...he asked about running Iron

>tests--I mentioned to him that some of you stated that deficiencies in iron

>are sometimes Gleevec related and cause more fatigue. So, she is doing that

>but also noted (and the reason for immediate call back), was his " liver

>numbers " . I dont know what that means as of yet--but he is driving back

>right now to get more tests.

>

>So--MY QUESTION---havent many of you had problems with your liver? What

>came

>of it? More meds? How does Gleevec affect the liver? Does any of this sound

>familiar to any of you?

>

>Any help would be great--sorry--also--this email is written in what I feel

>like is an " emergency situation " ...

>

>Thanks,

> Cervera

>wife of Cervera, age 33.

>Diagnosed July 2007, 400mg/Gleevec daily

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Yes, Gleevec can cause liver toxicity in some people which is why

they recommend we don't drink too much alcohol or take drugs that are

metabolized through the liver such as Tylenol.

According to the prescribing information

( http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/gleevec_tabs.pdf ),

less than 0.5% of people had to go off Gleevec permanently because of

liver toxicity so the problem is quite manageable but for those who

do have a problem, they normally stop the Gleevec and see if the

enzymes come down. One thing that's interesting though is that they

don't bother to stop the Gleevec until the enzymes are 5 times the

upper limit of normal so you can see that it has to be pretty bad

before they take action.

Some patients who have had persistent problems have seen success by

taking Prednisone along with the Gleevec but I don't think is

anywhere near that point yet.

The other thing they'll want to check out is to make sure he doesn't

have hepatitis which is probably what they were referring to when

they said they were checking for a virus.

Let us know how it goes when he gets back but try not to worry, liver

problems are usually very manageable.

Take care,

Tracey

[Guest guest]

Tracey--

Thanks so much for the info - you always answer in such a clear, concise

way. This weekend we did have friends and family in town visiting, and

did drink more than normal (not that he drinks every day, normal might be

2-3 beers in a week...this weekend he might have had 6-7 over the course of

the whole weekend). He probably had 3-4 the day he went to the ER, and he

also took Tyleonol because of a headache. Maybe both those things caused his

body to react, which caused him to feel " tingly and weird " , and that is what

got us to the ER, and that is what registered in his blood. Interestingly,

too, he ate oysters, something his parents and I were telling him NOT to do

because of chance of infection. Why did you bring up the hepatitis

thing...is that common or something?

We'll see...thanks again for your info...

>From: " Tracey " <traceyincanada@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: [ ] HELP! CML and the Liver

>Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 21:49:34 -0000

>

>Hi ,

>

>Yes, Gleevec can cause liver toxicity in some people which is why

>they recommend we don't drink too much alcohol or take drugs that are

>metabolized through the liver such as Tylenol.

>

>According to the prescribing information

>( http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/gleevec_tabs.pdf ),

>less than 0.5% of people had to go off Gleevec permanently because of

>liver toxicity so the problem is quite manageable but for those who

>do have a problem, they normally stop the Gleevec and see if the

>enzymes come down. One thing that's interesting though is that they

>don't bother to stop the Gleevec until the enzymes are 5 times the

>upper limit of normal so you can see that it has to be pretty bad

>before they take action.

>

>Some patients who have had persistent problems have seen success by

>taking Prednisone along with the Gleevec but I don't think is

>anywhere near that point yet.

>

>The other thing they'll want to check out is to make sure he doesn't

>have hepatitis which is probably what they were referring to when

>they said they were checking for a virus.

>

>Let us know how it goes when he gets back but try not to worry, liver

>problems are usually very manageable.

>

>Take care,

>Tracey

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It sounds to me like the combination between the alcohol and the

Tylenol were at the root of this in which case, the liver will heal

and there shouldn't be any lasting problems.

The reason I mentioned the hepatitis is because hepatitis will cause

liver enzymes to go up so that's usually something they want to rule

out before they jump to the conclusion that Gleevec is the cause.

Hepatitis is a virus which effects the liver whereas the danger with

Oysters is bacteria and that doesn't usually have an effect on the

liver.

It's a good idea to avoid food that can cause bacterial infections

though (undercooked meat, unwashed raw vegies etc) because often our

neutrophils are a bit low while on Gleevec and it's the neutrophils

that fight bacterial infections. I just figure why push my luck

Take care,

Tracey