[CML] Re: [AsianCMLSupportGroup] Hi , Thinning tips, and PCR test

[Dorothy Emery]

Hi Mary, I'm one that hasn't done a stem cell harvest.  I suspect I would not be able to get enough cells as I run with a low wbc but I also have strong doubts that I would ever use the cells.   I might be sorry one day that I haven't done this but right now it just seems like a lot of trouble and expense for something that I'll very likely never use and very likely would not be successful. Dr. O'Brien said in his teleconference last week that he and others are beginning to wonder if we aren't buying too much insurance with all these stem cell harvests.  He said there are thousands of these in storage right now but he only knows of 2 or 3 people worldwide who have been able to make use of them.  But he also said to go ahead and do it if it's what you want to --because no one really knows right now if they will ever be needed or not.  At least this is the gist of what he said as I recall it.  Congratulations on your pcru status! Best wishes, Dorothy Mary Toole wrote: Hate to ask for advice when I've been so lax lately, but I need some opinions.  Got my PCR results and I am totally undetectable!   Dr. Sawyers believes that I am at a 4 log reduction. Now, the question.   Dr. Sawyers wants me to have a harvest right away.  I asked him what the chances were of me actually using the cells and he said that it was very small.  He said he would probably try BMS first or other therapies that may come along because he doesn't feel that I will relapse for quite some time.  He believes there will be many other options by then.  But, he said if it were him, he would probably do it anyway because of this window of opportunity. My concerns are as follows:  Dr. Sawyers wants me to be off Gleevec for a good week or so and I'm thinking why rock the boat?  I'm doing so well on IM and worried that it may change things even if slightly.  Also worry about staph infection and sepsis with an open wound while being in the hospital.  Unfounded worry?  A lot of people have said how it made them so anemic afterwards as well.  I remember Dr. Mauro saying that they had 10,000 frozen harvests and have only used 2 of them.  He also said that it only worked  about half the time.  Is it worth the risk and the discomfort?  Those of you who are at PCRU and have not had a harvest, why not?  I would really appreciate your opinions as well as those who have chosen harvest.  What other risks are there?  Thanks in advance for your time.  Regards, Mary Toole dx 10/02         New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe:  [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe:  [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.