Hello everyone, it's Becky (the gist patient) again, I want to thank thank Barb and Lisa for their input regarding the soreness of the inside of my mouth and tongue. I wasn't able to locate Biotene toothpaste, but I did find Biotene mouthwash and am using that. I may also try the vitamin E trick. I plan to ask my oy oncologist about Nyostatin when I see him in a couple of days.
I believe that the problem is side effect of taking gleevec, although I don't believe that it occurs very frequently. I did find some literature in the Express Scripts Drug library that lists sores or white patches in the mouth as a side effect. My oncologist says that it doesn't look like a yeast infection, and is calling it mucositis. However, I did try 2 courses of Diflucan, without improvement. The good news it that it is tolerable, and doesn't actually interfere with my ability to eat. It's just uncomfortable. Yes, there is a gist support group, and I am a member of it. They are a wonderful support system for me but they didn't have any suggestions regarding my mucositis. Any one who is interested is invited to join the gistsupport group. People with gist have found gleevec to be a godsend--saving many gisters who where even in hospice when the initial gleevec trials for gist began. However, as with CML, primary resistance to gleevec or development of gleevec resistance is a problem. There is another drug (to be called Sugen or Sutent)which has proven effective in approx. 50% of gist patients who are experiencing gleevec resistance. Sugen is a Pfizer drug, FDA approval is anticipated sometime in 2006. There are also clinical trials of gleevec combined with other drugs taking place. They are beginning to learn that not all gist patients have the same genetic mutation of the c-kit gene. Some progress is being made to determine which genetic mutations respond best to which drugs. Just as with CML patients, we're following the research closely, hoping for more answers. Again,thanks for your help. Becky Bensenhaver ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Ever feel sad or cry for no reason at all? Depression. Narrated by Kate Hudson. http://us.click.yahoo.com/1visLB/esnJAA/xGEGAA/8zSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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 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: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
