168 replies to this topic

[hannibellemo]

Thanks, Marnie! 

[Tom1278]

I'm 35 and live in Baltimore, MD.  I live with my partner of 8 years.  I was diagnosed a little over 2 years ago at the age of 33 after a routine physical.

 

I'm on Gleevec 400mg and I am very close to MMR as of my 24 month test results.

[PhilB]

I'm 48 and live in a small village just outside Salisbury, England.  Diagnosed Feb 2009 and haunted this place for a few years, learning loads and exchanging banter.  MMR for 5 years and took the decision a while ago to back off from reading all the scientifc papers and hanging here with my BIFs every day to try and put CML behind me and get on with life.  Feeling relaxed enough now to dip my toe back in the waters!

Married with 2 sons (9 and nearly 11) and trying to live a relaxed, outdoorsy kind of life depite being a chartered accountant with a huge commute.  Rumoured to have a pet squirrel with an alcohol problem.  Hate overcooked liver, but flash-fried calve's liver with a red wine sauce is another matter entirely.  Looking forward to retirement at some point in the next few years and also looking forward to some of you lot retiring so I can feed you if you ever visit the UK.

 

Congratulations Pat on the grandchild!  Do we get to call you Grannibellemo now?

[hannibellemo]

Phil,

 

I can't believe "A to Z" are that old already! (Everyone - I highly recommend that you allow PhilB to feed you if you get the chance. He and Mrs. PhilB are fantastic hosts!) You can just call me, Grammy!  

[Marnie]

Hey, Phil.  .  . we ran into a couple from your neck of the woods who own their own motorcycle touring company (Dragon Moto Tours).  They were over here doing a tour, and we met them at the base of Mt. Evans.  We looked at maps together, suggested some rides for them, and gave them our maps so they could find their way.  We've been exchanging e-mails and hope that at some point we'll end up on your side of the pond doing some motorcycle touring. 

 

We are now in the process of beginning to build a retirement home (getting out of the big city), and then will start touring in earnest.  We might make it out your way sometime.  Since Pat says you are a wonderful host, we may just drop in on you!

 

Marnie

[PhilB]

Marnie, we'd love to have you.  I don't think my pushbike would keep up with your motorbikes, but there would definitely be a gourmet meal on offer and a bed to sleep it off in.  We'll take you out canoeing too, but we do the flatwater stuff rather than letting the river do all the work!

[Marnie]

I grew up in Minnesota, Land of 10,000 lakes, and have spent a lot of time paddling flatwater. 

[acl]

Hi JPD,

 

I live in Ontario, Canada. I am happily married to Joseph, but unfortunately we do not have any children. After working for 29 years as an admitting clerk and Radiology clerk, I took an early retirement. I have some hobbies. I like to work out, gardening, reading and watching TV.  I also do not enjoy liver, but I do tolerate chicken livers.

 

Adela

[LAC1223]

Hello everyone

I live alone in upstate NY, never married and no children, working in the Renewables field and loving it. Second career for me after spending 25 years in IT for banking, then I decided to make a change in 2007 and am so happy I did. I was lucky enough to survive 2 brain tumors - one in 1992 and one in 2002 and was a bit blindsided by my CML diagnosis in 2011. Have a great support system of family and friends....Thank goodness!!!!

Love to read, hang with friends, I make a mean Mojito, oh and I love to shop.... Getting harder to go to malls with the back pain, so I have become a bit addicted to online shopping....gonna brag here, my holiday shopping is almost done - thanks QVC :-)

First concert was Phil Collins, last concert was Aerosmith....with Red Hot Chile Peppers, Bon Jovi, Andrea Bocelli, Matcthbox 20, Michael Buble and a bunch of others in between.....my tastes are all over the place.

I too am grateful for this forum, I don't comment a lot, but it's great to know that I have someplace to go to ask questions or to just vent.

[gbarrett]

HI, I'm Gina... 49 years old, diagnosed CML in July 2011 with random blood test for an iron deficiency. WBC count was at 568 within a year was in remission. I have 3 kids 26 - 22 - 19 all out of the house so my hubby and I are empty nesters. I am starting a new hobby of obedience training with my 3 year old English Springer Spaniel, needed something to do. I'm not a red meat eater at all (probably not good since I have iron deficiency in the first place - my body doesn't absorb iron for some weird reason) but I do like chicken and turkey and LOVE Indian and Thai food!!

[Mayra]

Hi I'm Mayra! I'm from Austin, TX. I'm 37 and have two girls 4 and 9. They keep me really busy. I've been happily married to my husband for 15 years. We were childhood friends and have known each other since the 5th grade. I was diagnosed December 2012 after routine blood work for a health screening. My passions of course are my little family and finding ways for nonverbal children to communicate. I'm a speech pathologist and specialize in Assisting Technology. My hobbies include reading, watching trashy TV shows and shopping. I also like trying new restaurants especially BBQ joints. My music taste is varied and the last concert I attended was Taylor Swift with my 9 year old:)

[ChrisC]

Hi all,

 

I am a 63-year-old lady, never married, dx Oct. 2008, PCRU Sept. 2009, quit TKIs Sept. 2011, still PCRU. Saw the Beatles, Stones (3x), Jimi Hendrix, Who (3x). George Harrison, Paul McCartney & Wings, Dylan (5x), Van Morrison, Traffic, the list goes on . . . ; wished I'd seen Bob Marley, Leonard Cohen . . . hooray for YouTube!

 

ChrisC

[alexamay09]

Hi

I am Scottish. Diagnosed August 2012. Had breast cancer treatment in 2009. Numbers taking a while to come down though have been CCyR for a while. On 140mg sprycel for nearly 2 years. Threw caution to the wind a few months ago and took on a big run down house which will take years to fix. I teach psychology at a Further Education college and can't afford to stop now!  Am allergic to prawns, hate liver, love Qigong.

 

alex

[Rissa]

Hi.  I haven't posted in months.  I'm a 46 year old native Texan living in Maryland.  Married with 3 kids.  My favorite bands are the Moody Blues and the Eagles, but I love all kinds of music.  The last concert I went to was Night Ranger.  I'm addicted to audiobooks.  I love most genres except for the romance novels.  Blech, no thanks!  No degree, but I am a consultant/database administrator for a software company.  I spent 4 years in the Air Force a long time ago.  I was diagnosed in April of 2011.  Doing well on gleevec.   

[story]

I am from central Iowa, 3 yrs PCRU. I am married to a wonderful woman and we have a house full of cats and a nervous little dog. Love all music but have been on a Blue October run since seeing them live earlier this summer. I really enjoy building engines and chassis for dirt track racing. Love the oil smoke, dust and noise!

[Cathy]

I live in Cleveland, OH, 61 years old,  Dx  May 2010 , Never been MMR just close, on 70 Sprycel for 1 1/2 years. Divorced with  to grown boys (men)  one is  married with 2 kids and one single living in Chicago. So I get the joy of being a grandma! Work in Tax for a large Paint company at the headquarters. Don't post much but read everyones post every week or so, but don't worry like i used to most of the time!  Enjoy all the banter. I enjoy all kinds of Music grew up int he 70's so still like the old and the new stuff. I do Stained Glass as a hobby. Have a show this weekend, I only do a couple a year since I have a full time job.

[Marnie]

I would like to learn to do stained glass when I'm retired.  I know that it's a pretty expensive hobby, but it just looks like a wonderful hobby!

[sullivas6]

Hi, everyone, while I am an AML survivor and did not battle CML, I like to encourage others battling cancer and I have do have some experience with a chronic illness, HVC, acquired from a blood transfusion during treatment before they tested for HVC. I am post AML treatment 25+ years.

 

I live in the Chicago Suburbs, father of 4, 2 before AML and 2 after treatment, with 13 years between the sets. I am new grandfather, my first grandchild born last Aug. I too have a BA in History, but I knew it was not going to pay the bills, and sought computer training to become a programmer and have worked in Information Technology for nearly 30 years. I currently work for a major health system in the area, and have experience in both the customer and now business side of healthcare. The business side is just as complex as the treatment side. 

 

While I do not have experience with your treatments, I do have life experience in dealing with cancer and tough treatment questions, such as chemo vs BMT. Note: even though a relapse patient, I still chose a chemo only course of treatment, but that is another story.

God's peace be with you all.  

[Cathy]

Yes stained glass is a wonderful hobby but very expensive . I keep saying I'm going to stop its too expensive. it has quadrupled in price for supplies since I started. You bleed allot doing it also.... its funny how much blood I get on patterns....

 

have a good day everyone

[Marnie]

So is it worth learning to do stained glass, or should I just throw that idea out the window?