Re: Difference between CML & CLL

[Guest guest]

>

> Someone asked the diffence between ALL & CML. I found this at a LLS website

on their message board.

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This was a very interesting and informative post Lottie. I know that Beth has

written that the doctor's are confused about her case, and we can see how hard

it is to make the proper diagnosis....but as written, it is kind of academic

(except for maybe predicting it or looking for it in advance) because the

treatment is really the same.

I have heard people say before that when they went into blast crisis that it

converted to acute leukemia (rather than calling it blast phase CML). This

happened with Jeanne s, who went into blast crisis which became acute

leukemia, then she had high dose chemotherapy to bring about a second chronic

phase of CML and then she had a BMT at the Hutch.....and Jeanne is a survivor!

Also, I think the reason for the preference for Sprycel is that it is the only

TKI that crosses the blood/brain barrier...so it can also treat the central

nervous system.

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And I am glad to see the latest update written by Beth and that she will

continue with the excellent care that she is getting at HH in the UK. Beth, you

can slay this dragon.

Best to you,

C.

[Guest guest]

Lottie,

Your post on CML/ALL/AML is very interesting.

I have just checked the information about the different disease on

the LLS website -which I haven't done in many years. When I was dx'd

(5 years ago), the information still said that CML progressed to AML,

and so blast crisis was considered equivalent to AML. Currently, the

LLS website talks about Blast Stage CML.

I am sure that part of this change is the fact that we have so much

more insight into they different types of AML, as well as the use of

TKI's to push back progression (if only temporarily) in later stages

of CML has given more information about what late stage CML actually is.

After all, without BMB and genetic tests, a patient presenting with

blast crisis CML must have presented pretty similarly to a patient

with AML

(probably the source of all the literary tragedies involving

" leukemia " - symptoms and end result were pretty much the same for a

long time)

The fact that a person like Beth can be so puzzling to the

specialists is just an indication that we still don't know EVERYTHING

that we need to know to get on top of these diseases.

Beth - I know you are out there reading us all. the flow of positive

energy for you is going on 24/7

Best,

Leah