Re: 600 mg counters previous setback

[Guest guest]

Hi Wayne,

Some people need higher doses to get them to CCR and it seems that

you are one of those people. Clearly the increase in dose has worked

for you so congratulations! You're not far from CCR now.

Aside from increasing your dose, have you done anything else

different in the last month that may have also contributed to the

results? For example have you stopped taking another medication that

may have been interfering with Gleevec absorption? If nothing else

has changed, then it seems logical to assume that it's the increased

dose that's responsible for your improved results and I wouldn't want

to fix what's not broken if you know what I mean.

If you can tolerate the 600mg relatively well, then I would be very

reluctant to lower your dose since the past has shown that the lower

dose was not effective for you. Have you tried using Imodium to help

with the gastro side effects?

I can't imagine any doctor lowering your dose at this point unless

your quality of life is such that you are miserable. If in the

future you attain a 3 log reduction and remain stable with it for a

period of time (at least 2 years), then I MIGHT consider lowering the

dose to 400mg but at this point, I personally wouldn't consider it.

Take care,

Tracey

--- In , " tinman1939new " <tinman1939new@...>

wrote:

>

> A FISH test just revealed that 12.5% of my cells are leukemic,

> whereas a FISH test one month ago revealed I was at 43.5%. What

> accounts for the nice rebound? The onc. upped my dosage of Gleevec

> from 400 mg to 600 mg.

>

> Although the side-effects (most notably, gastro-intestinal) are

more

> pronounced now, the results of the test make clear that the

> increased dosage is working. Normally, such tests occur every

three

> months, but since I am moving (work-related), and my levels went

> from 24% in March to 43.5% in June (no doubt from stress), the onc.

> wanted me to stabilize (or improve) before my move.

>

> I'll be on the higher dose for at least another two months. The

> question is this: If I continue to improve, is it likely the new

> onc in the city where I move will reduce my dosage back to 400

> mg...or keep it at the 600 mg level?

>

> If anyone can share their experiences in this regard, it would be

> helpful. Thanks in advance.

>

> Wayne

>