Re: Leukemia Cure without medication - Claude

[Guest guest]

Claude,

It seems you are not alone in thinking about getting off the drug.

There are several studies underway to determine if Gleevec + low dose Interferon

could result in a drug free status. A trial with Sprycel is to be added too.

Yesterday, Jerry Mayfield who runs the www.newcmldrug.com site posted this

message about Dr. Talpaz (who is arguably one of the very top CML docs) who is

recruiting and using the word CURE. Imagine!

Trials for patients wishing to stop all CML drugs (Can you spell " CURE " ?).

by Jerry Mayfield

Dr. Talpaz needs volunteers to participate in trials which combine TKIs with

interferon and possibly other drugs with the goal of stopping all drugs and

remaining CML free (Can you spell " CURE " ?). He says that the present trials are

proceeding very slowly due a lack of trial participants.

He is very optimistic that this approach might bring a cure to many patients and

is planing additional combination trials for the near future.

Right now he is doing a Gleevec/Pegulated Interferon trial and plans another

using Sprycel in the near future. He also has other combinations in mind

including drugs that kill CML stem cells.

If you are interested, please contact me and I will give you contact

information.

Regards,

Jerry

This is clearly exciting stuff though it will only be an option for the small

percentage of patients who achieve PCRU. But it starts a path and perhaps it

points the way for the rest of us longer term. I am not a PCRU patient, indeed

after 11.4 years, I am not even a 0% Ph+ patient so I won't be able to try this

approach but I would if I could. I was dx'd before Gleevec so I was on IFN and

Ara-C. I had a TERRIBLE time on it. And though it would fill me with dread to

try it again, I know I would for the opportunity to get off all meds. I would

only do so with a CML specialist and preferably in the confines of a trial. Not

only would I be thrilled to be off all medication, my bank account would be

better off too. I pay a minimum of $500 per month as a co-pay in Canada.

Contact Jerry or Dr. Talpaz to get more information.

Best to you,

dx 11/98

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> I have been taken gleevec since October 2007 and I am remission. I believe the

bone marrow can reconstruct itself. I asked the doctor to see if I can stop

taken Gleevec for awhile to see if my bone marrow is functioning normal again.

He says I have to take Gleevec for the rest of my life. I know what is going to

happen to my body eventually, I am going to die from all the toxic effects of

Gleevec. I am thinking of stopping the medication for sometime, because the

fatigue is too much for me. Has anyone of you thought about this, or has

someone tried to stop? Your thoughts are appreciated, God bless you all.

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