3 replies to this topic

[JoshLee]

Hi everyone,

      So here is my dilemma. I am taking tasigna and have a CCyR. Judged by two bmbs and a 500 count fish. My pcr on the IS is a 1.3 percent and has been hovering around this for apart a year. Two months ago my onc. Upped my tasigna to 800 mg instead of 600. 2 months have gone by and my PCR hasn't budged. I have had to mutational analysis and they have both come up clean. Oncologist had now given me the choice to stay on tasigna or

Switch to sprycel. I haven't lost any ground, but I just haven't gained any my PCR has been stable for a year and I tolerate this

Drug well and I feel great.... What would you do?

[PhilB]

If Sprycel was available then I'd give it a try.  If it gets your numbers lower then great.  If it doesn't, or if side effects are particularly bad, then you can always go back to Tasigna.  Statistically, stable is good and a CCyR maintained for a couple of years is just as good as MMR so there is every reason to suppose you would be fine if you stayed where you are.  For peace of mind though I'd want to at least try Sprycel to see if it could get me to MMR.

[akjones]

I was in exactly the same position CCyR but no MMR. I've been on Sprycel for 4 months now and my BCR/ABL numbers have dropped from 2% to .43% (my MMR number would be 0.06%). I like Sprycel better than Tasigna, no fasting requirement and my hair and nails are growing again now. Only side effect I've had is some joint pain but seems to be gone since I've started on 500 mg of Curcumin (which might help the CML as well).

[CallMeLucky]

Would probably switch and see how it goes.  I'd also be curious what my results would be at a different lab, but not sure how practical that is or if it would make any difference.