To All It's been a long time since I posted--a sign that I am feeling "normal" now that I am 8 years from my cml diagnosis. I still subscribe to the lists and enjoy seeing the names of the oldies and "meeting" the newbies.
I was diagnosed in the Spring of 2000 at age 57; had a mini sct that failed to bring remission; started Gleevec in November 2000; reached remission in September 2001. It took till my second year of remission to feel true relief. After reaching remission I still worried "What if it comes back?" I always thought this at bedtime & then had trouble falling asleep (even though I took ativan & ambien for a year). Then one night--for whatever reason--when I asked myself that same question, the answer was "If it comes back they'll do something about it." And so they have for those who cannot respond to Gleevec. Who could have imagined that the research would produce more options for treatment and better outcomes for sct's? The list was a lifeline for me in the beginning of my illness. And these many years later it remains a source of comfort and encouragement. No one needs to suffer in silence or be scared all their waking hours. My anniversary celebration: The Spring of 2001 I began marking my diagnosis by passing out carnations to family and friends, to vendors at the Farmers' Market, to the women at the coffee shop & at the bookstore where I get my NY Times. It makes us all happy & grateful that we've all marked another year. And it's a joy for me. I would love to hear from the first Spring Fling group and from the Niagara Falls group. If any one of you is reading this, please write me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] I hope that this note will be a source of hope for those not in remission and a confirmation for those who are. Please withhold any praise for me--I did what I was told & was lucky that the chemistry worked for me. There were lots of times I didn't have a great attitude & I can still be my gloomy self more than several days a year. I probably shouldn't end with this sentence, but that's my reality. Some people share that reality and some don't. But we are all joined by adversity and understand each others' frustrations and fears, sorrows and joys. We are in community. And that is a wondrous thing. My very best regards to those of you who know and to those who don't Ruth Marcon Allentow, PA --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
