gleevec vacation

[Guest guest]

after 6 years on Gleevec my mother is still PCRU, we are happy about that, but

she has been having lots of problem with her stomach, 2 days ago she went to

hospital because a

gastroenteritis, now she is at home but hasn´t taken gleevec for 3 days, she

wants to start it again tomorrow.

the question is:

have some of youtaken a gleevec vacation? ; was there any problem?

[Guest guest]

When my mother was sick and in the hospital several times, I would go a week

without meds because I was not able to really eat enough to take the pill.  I 

have not been taking them seven days a week for 6+ months now.  On days that I

need to last the whole day, I usually skip my meds.  I average about 4 pills a

week.  I told my doctor I wanted to try this as the side effects were affecting

my daily life and I wanted to experiment.  She checks me every month and I have

maintained my PCRU " 0 " count.  My FISH and PCR still show " no detection of

BCR-ABL " . My WC has stayed in the normal range with little fluctuation. I

thought I had read about a trial that would check absorption, etc. of the meds. 

It would be great to be able to take just what your body needs instead of

everyone on the same dosage.  I always wonder what other organs the meds affect

now that my cancer cells are not detectable.

When I was first diagnosed in July 2006, my counts returned to normal with 2

weeks after starting Gleevec.  I have been in the normal range every since.  I

was always so scared to miss 1 pill when I first started, but it hasn't seem to

affect my counts.  I'm not saying this is a good thing to do, but just gave you

my experience so you would not be afraid if you missed one.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Ana

I had an operation last year - off glivec for 14 days - then went back on

and was started on the dose below my normal dose for 2 weeks and then

back to full dose

All under specialist direction and that is what I suggest - follow your medical

guys orders - I had no problems though

I am on 600 dose