Renee, I have been on Gleevec since 2001 even before it was approved by the government. The Gleevec caused my anemia. My doctor lowered my dose from 600 to 400 and after a couple of months my red blood cell counts went back to normal but it took almost a year for everything to even out. If your doctor is not a leukemia specialist I would arrange for your son to find one and see them at least once in a while even if you have to travel to do it. I think that would aleviate some of your fears. I had one of the leading specialists who was part of the original study at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. Unfortunately, Dr. Khoury is no longer in that position but I still go to the same group of doctors. I was just lucky enough to live in the suburbs of St. Louis because the old protocol interferon deteriorated my leg muscles and I became intolerant of it. Lucky for me I was put in the Gleevec study before I had to have a stem cell transplant. I achieved remission after 3 months and the doctor thought I was in blast crisis when I was diagnosed. There are still alot of questions about Gleevec and how it affects people so don't be surprised if your doctor doesn't give detailed answers to questions because they just don't know the answers. Good luck and God bless, Holly
--- Renee Bush <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Okay, my 19 yo son was Dx on July 4, 2005. At the > time, he had been > admitted to the hospital with suspected meningitis, > but it was his wbc > that got him into a cancer treatment center, with > the CML diagnosis. > The highest his wbc got was 110,000. He went on > Gleevec July 8, with > a wbc of 41,000. He was only on oral chemo for > about two weeks, > becuase his wbc dropped to 7,900 pretty fast. It > stayed there for a > week, then went to 3,900, then to 3,200, and today, > 2,200. When we > call the doctor's office,the nurse confers with her, > then calls us > back, and tells us to continue with the 400 mg. of > Gleevec, especially > since we are scheduled to see the doctor in three > days, Monday, the > 15th of August. Meanwhile, they tell us the rest of > his bloodwork > looks good. To me, it does not. He is anemic--and > we were told, in > the hospital, that would take care of itself, as his > wbc went down. > This has not happened. He is bummed out and tired, > due to go back to > his sophomore year of college in one week--thank > God, he is only a > half hour away, but does live in the dorms, due to > his scholarships > and his R.A. position there--and he is slightly > depressed. > > My question is, why is he still on 400 mg of > Gleevec? It sure looks > like it has more than done its job! I want the dose > reduced, but the > office keeps telling us, no, wait till he sees her > on Monday. I hate > to sound like a raving paranoiac, but I sometimes > wonder if he is not > just a guinea pig for this medicine, thankful as I > am for Gleevec. > > Someone who has been there and done that, I would > sure love to hear > from you! It is 4 A.M., and I have not slept yet. > I thought I had > pretty strong personal faith, but this one is > keeping me awake. > > Thanks in advance, > > Renee,slightly tearful > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12kttue8m/M=362335.6886443.7839732.1589681/D=grphealth/S=1705061628:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1123955730/A=2894365/R=0/SIG=1322kcnmd/*http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/health/?source=YAHOO&cmpgn=GRP&RTP=http://groups.yahoo.com/";>Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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/
