Hi Jaime, I have had CML since 7/2003.
Your early response to get the WBC down to the "9s" is good news! Some other comments: Dr Ostrow - sorry to hear he seems cranky - we are all human. But more importantly that maybe his problem - dont make it yours. Ask questions till you are blue in the face. First outcome of this is that you will become informed and the second is you will size up your Doctor. Most oncologists are very bright and caring people. Most oncologists are not CML experts. You need to have an expert in your corner. It does not need to be an every day expert but somebody who will help you answer questions that your every day oncologist cant. So if possbile search around. Even call Novartis to see if they have Drs in your area who are paritcipating in studies/trials. Also - have you been baselined through a bone marrow biospy? This is important - I have to belive the answer is yes. Get the results - should include FISH. From there you know your baseline. Response is measured in (from what I know) 3 levels. WBC, Cellular and Molecular. WBC readings monitor the first level. A cellular response, some where between 20 and 200 cells are inspected for the "philadelphia Chromosone" and then PCR is done at the lowest level of monitoring to fins moecular fingerpirnts of the bcr/abl translocation. So there are 3 levels of response to shoot for. But, even when you (I hope you do) reach the point of being undectable in a PCR test - remember that the bad cells can still be lurking and if you bounce up and down a bit in the PCR results over time - dont get too upset - just stay informed! So 2 disclaimers: a) I am no expert and I am working off my own limited understanding and perspective! b) I am a poor speller! Be good, Chris --- In [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Hello To everyone, > I hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! > The day after thanksgiving I had gone to my scheduled appointment with Dr > Ostrow, whom lately seems rather crabby. I didnt ask him any questions as I just > wanted to get out of there. He was supposed to call me later in the eveing > to confirm my sisters HLA blood type results to see if she would be a possible > future donor for a BMT. When i first started going to Dr Ostrow my WBC were > in the 19,000's and over the past few months have gone down into the 9,000's > which is good correct? My RBC is normal. Does this mean Im in remission? If > so how will I know if I'll stay in range?And why would my doctor want to raise > the Gleevec from 400 mg to 6-800 mg? Will my Dr eventually take me off the > Gleevec to see if my WBC stay where they need to be? > Also being on Gleevec, will this keep me out of the Accelerated and Blast > phase? Now that my WBC is in the 9,000's would it make any sence to concider a > BMT?Before my last appointment to sho the 9,000's range my Dr as well as a > second opinion Dr stated a BMT is better to do when young rather than later in > life, though also said there would be no rush at this time to do a BMT that a > BMT would be something I needed to do more research on and that they wouldnt > push me into something I wasnt comfortable with. Also even though I was > recently dx with cml. My WBC was in the 26,000's range in 96 or 97, though when I > went to Dr Ostrow in August this year it was in the 19,000's, 1. Would I have > had the CML all this time? 2. How could my WBC drop since 96 or 97 not being > on any medication? Sorry for all the questions, Im just rather confused. > > Jamie from NY > Dx August 2005 > Gleevec 400 mg > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Help save the life of a child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. http://us.click.yahoo.com/JrD4fD/lbOLAA/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/
