3 replies to this topic

[JimDec_2005]

diag. w/ CML 12/5/2005, given 2-5 yrs to live, then 400 mg Gleevec 1/5/2006/ undecteable remission 2/15/07, still in undectable remission 9/7/2010. 67 yrs. old-hypertension-triple bypass-artheroscloris-preferial artery disease, type II dibieties. Anyway, I was given 2-5 yrs. with the info. that had data circ 2005. For me it is 3 yrs 7 months after pcru-still on 400 mg Gleevec-has the 2-5 changed to 2-10 or 2-15 or 2-20? What do the doctors tell new patients now-a-days? or what?

[lala]

hi---when I was diagnosed in March of 2006, they talked about Gleevec giving us 7 years.  I remember taking my youngest son's age, 15, and adding the 7 to it....thinking I could get him out of college and that made me feel pretty lucky after hearing the word leukemia!!!!!!  He is now a college sophomore, and I expect to live to be an old woman!!!!!  I am almost 54 --- tired every day---can't work like I used to, don't go out much other than work in the mornings, but I am planning on seeing him grow old!!!!!!  I started on Gleevec 400 and still take it daily. My doctors tell me to expect to live a long time.....they say if the G stops working, there are other drugs and more and more research is making everything better....??????  Will be curious to read the other replies......lala

[Trey]

This discusses the issue:

http://community.lls.org/thread/2600?tstart=0

[Susan61]

Hi:  I do not even count the years anymore.  Everyday is a miracle to me.  I think of my age.  I will be 63 in Nov. and was diagnosed at 51, and there are so many others living with this disease.  I know of one who has had CML 33 years plus, and keeps trying each new treatment if one should fail.

So much is known now that was not known years ago.  By the time they found it in most people, it was too late.  Probably because there were no symptoms.

My Grandmother and Aunt both died of Leukemia.  I am going back to the early 60's.  Neither one of them ever went to see a doctor.  They only went when they had the flu or  a bad cold to get a antibiotic.  By the time the doctors realized they had Leukemia, they could not do anything for either one of them.

People go for check-ups more often.  Most will get that yearly exam with a routine blood test, and get their Cholesterol and Tryglycerides checked etc.

So many are getting that Colonoscopy when they turn 50 to be sure they are okay, because most times Colon Cancer has no symptoms either till its too late.

Thats why these cancers are found early enough for survival.  More and more is found out through all the research of how these diseases work, and how to treat them.  I wake-up every morning and Thank God for a New Day, before I even get out of bed.

Susan