2 replies to this topic

[scuba]

Nilotinib is more likely to induce type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hyperlipidemia compared with dasatinib among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), according to a poster presented at the 2017 Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) Annual Conference.1

 

http://www.cancerthe...article/647835/

[hannibellemo]

That doesn't surprise me. I remember many members posting that their blood sugar counts sky rocketed when they started Tasigna. Mine would often reach 120 (fasting) on Sprycel at the beginning but now they are more likely to be in the 90's.

[cmljax]

My glucose has always been borderline (in the 90's).  Type 1 diabetes runs in my family, so I do everything I can do to keep fit and minimize sugar intake, particularly foods with added sugar, of which there are countless numbers. My glucose jumped immediately upon starting Tasigna 600 MG from 93 to as high as 120. My cholesterol also increased from 178 to 210 after starting Tasigna, not too serious but still an increase. 

 

I reduced dose to 450 MG on 3/10/17 at my insistence because of other side effects, most notably a rash of squamous cell skin cancers during the first 4 months of treatment (my onc and Novartis said there is no known link between Tasigna and skin cancer, but I think it was a contributing factor along with my not so stellar immune system and too much sun without sun screen).  I had blood work just 5 days after dose reduction and glucose had dropped to 98 and cholesterol to 183.  I do not think this was a coincidence or a bad test, but I was surprised to see such an impact after only 4 days on the lower dose.  Next blood work is April 5, so we will see.  The skin cancers have also slowed down quite a bit with only 1 potential lesion since dose reduction versus 9 SCC's confirmed by biopsy and another 25 suspicious lesions frozen from November - early March. I am encouraged by all of this and hope my PCR next week stays at or even goes below where I was on 3/10/17 (.006%).

 

Tasigna has been so effective for me that I didn't want to just switch to another TKI without first trying dose reduction. All of the TKI's have side effects, so switching doesn't necessarily mean an easier road, just a different road that might be easier or harder. Like so many people on these forums, I want to find the lowest level of medicine that will keep my CML in deep response. Not all oncologists have caught up with this evolving trend.  Mine is at Mayo Clinic, and only begrudgingly agreed to my recent dose reduction but reminded me that it was not his idea.  Keep your fingers crossed for me for a good PCR next week.