[CMLHope] Irene - no gleevec for a year?

[Barb Stanley]

Hello Irene, I am curious about your trial, the PR1 vaccine?  Could you tell me more about it?  And, what kind of side effects did you have that made you intolerant of gleevec?  I have recently been on a break from it for various things, but the most debilitating was painful muscles, joints and bones, to the point where I couldn’t walk.  My arms and legs felt like wood and my mobility was impaired. My oncologist as well as Drucker suggested a break and I did.  It was 10 weeks.  I returned to gleevec at the minimal therapeutic dose of 300 mg. a day. The last PCR showed no trace of the PH chromosome. I am some nervous about the next one due June 1. Like you, not a day goes by that I don’t think about CML.  I keep looking for the side effects to  return and so far, I am doing well back on the lower dose. Best of luck and enjoy Scotland. I was there in July of 03.  It was wonderful in Port Patrick and around. Barb in AZ Dx. 5-5-02  at age 51 400 mg gleevec 6-11-02 Break Feb. 11- May 1, 2006 Restart Gleevec 300 mg         ----- Original Message -----   From: Irene McAloon   To: CMLHope@googlegroups.com   Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 8:18 AM   Subject: [CMLHope] Haven't had any Gleevec for a year.       Well, I was at MDAnderson yesterday for my check up. My blood work was great but of course, it take two weeks to get the results from the BMA. It has been one year since my last Gleevec. I was on the PR1 vaccine from August to December. I’m still doing good. Number 956 in the Zero Club. It never leaves my mind, I think of CML every day and thank the Lord for saving me.   dx 5/04 Gleevec 400mg   off Gleevec 4/05   on & off Gleevec 5/05   PR1 vaccine 8/05-12/05   #956 2/06 Drug free and loving it. Enjoying my retirement.   I'm going to Scotland on Monday to meet up with my girlfriend and Tuesday we are  going to Benidorm, Spain for a week.    Irene McAloon   zippimom     PS My husband didn't know that you get vacations from retirement. He is still working.