Hi Peg, Just to show you the variety of reactions now that you have heard from others, I was placed on gleevec 400mg per day in Jan. 2004 with total remission in 3 months, which I was elated with since I was diagnosed when my white blood count was 630,000. The first year on gleevec had some issues such as muscle cramps in my legs and rashes on my arms, but after the first year those issues went away and the next 4 years were pretty uneventful. In May 2009 my onc saw my numbers beginning to elevate slightly so he recommended sprycel 100 mg day. Well, that wasn't nearly as smooth a transition as I had hoped. It began almost immediately with terrible sinus headaches followed by very painful cysts on my now oily face. After about six months of this (the headaches did subside) the numbers indicated complete remission again, so the onc reduced me to 70 mg per day to try to reduce the facial sores. Well, to make the long story short, the facial sores have reduced substantially (smaller and less often) and I am still in complete remission. The bottom line I guess, is that everyone of us are so different that our individual DNA will determine how each of us will respond to each medication. I think all we can do is blunder through these options (which I am glad we have) with trial and error to see what works for each one of us. What is right for one isn't right for another.
Good luck and may this be a good option for you. Dan On Aug 13, 2010, at 5:58 PM, peg wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my fears about > this switch. Went head-on with my oncologist today and I think he > understands me better. Had the option to switch from Gleevec to > either Tasigna or Sprycel. Gleevec is gone. I have opted for > Tasigna...for a variety of reasons, but option for Sprycel is open if > we need it. > > Here is the question I have now to anyone who has made this switch > specifically from Gleevec to Tasigna....what initial and immediate > side effects can I expect? Nausea and rash like Gleevec? If nausea > was a problem can anyone tell me what was prescribed, since both the > zofran and compazine prescribed with my Gleevec are both > contraindicated with Tasigna, due to risk of Long QT. I only ask > about the initial side effects just to be prepared....I still have to > work some part of every day no matter how I am feeling. I am self > employed, but to be absent from my work would cost me the contract > that keeps the roof over our heads. Knowing what could happen, > doesn't mean it will but being prepared for all posibilities works > best for me. > > Thanks again, peg > > -- > [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 -- [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
