19 replies to this topic

[CallMeLucky]

Before getting into the shower this morning I noticed a large dark red bruise on my back.  I realized it was a spot I had been scratching a few minutes earlier due to a mosquito bite.  It seemed strange that I bruised so easily, so I moved to another part of my back and scratched.  I scratched about 4-5 times, medium intensity, like you would for a itch.  I waited a few seconds and sure enough a new bruise showed up.  I tried to replicate this on my arm and nothing really happened, then the leg with nothing.  I then scratched my chest and had the same result as the back, so it appears to be only the torso.  The bruise looks like a bunch of broken blood capillaries, almost like you would see on a teenagers neck (i.e. a hickey). 

I'm trying not to let this get the better of my imagination, supposedly I am CMR and my last blood counts were very good, but there is definitely something going on.  The question is if it is merely overly sensitive skin as a side effect of Gleevec or if it is something to do with my blood.  I'm going to put a call into Oncologist.

Anyone have this happen?  I have been overly edgy lately as I feel like I am in that real danger zone of 12-18 months when I have heard of people who were doing really well all of a sudden take a 180 and their CML progressed out of no where.  I'm telling myself that isn't going to happen to me, but then I get something strange like this and it messes with my head.

[WoofWoof]

Lucky- you are lucky to only have the bruising only on your torso, I get them on my arms & torso. One thing that leads to esay bruising could be birthday candles-the more on the cake, the easier we bruise.  Also, are you taking any other meds; aspirin or other blood thinners, corticosteroids and some dietary supplements can be the problem. I have had this problem since just before my CML dx, and while on Gleevec & now with Tasigna.

[grannyd]

Lucky, I have the same thing but only on my legs. If I scratch with even a little pressure, I get black and blue. I am on tasigna and just got the results, as you know, that i am also CMR. I really never even thought the CML or drugs having this effect. Please post what your onc has to say!!! Hope everything turns out good. Prayers to all grannt d

[lala]

Hi, Lucky,  sorry to hear this.......I bet it will all work out and end upas no big deal, but until you hear that from the doc, it sure feels scary.  It's sooo nice to hear from the others, to lessen your fears....what would we do without this board of wonderful people?    You have helped so many on this board.....we sure want you to continue to do well.  Let us know what the doc says......Lala

[lala]

Hi...I like the birthday candle theory....made me laugh!  It is always good to laugh!  Lala

[CallMeLucky]

Just got the call back from the Onc - she said to come to the office today!  So I'm heading out and keeping my fingers crossed that this turns out to be nothing....

[lala]

We are all sending you positive energy.........

[grannyd]

Sure praying for good news, nothing serious!!!

[Trey]

The capillaries can be more fragile in some people due to the TKI drugs.  You are breaking capillaries.  The capillaries in the arms are often "tougher" due to sun exposure over time.  It does not mean anything related to response to TKI drugs.

[gunner]

Lucky-

Hoping everything is fine and this is just a strange side effect.

In the meantime, perhaps you could impress an image on your chest, promote it as a vision of a religious icon, market yourself as a shrine and charge admission for those who want a peek?!?

[hannibellemo]

Lucky,

Probably nothing, but it's good you're checking. I've noticed on Sprycel that I can expect an outbreak of petechia when I scratch a mosquito bite, for instance. I believe that is due to my platelet function being suboptimal, a side effect of Sprycel.

Good luck!

Pat

[jwbwater]

I'm on tasigna and have bruised easily in the recent past.  I've read that vitamin K is supposed to help with this so I started taking it and haven't noticed much bruising since so maybe it's helping.    

[CallMeLucky]

One of these days this cat is going to run out of lives, but so far things appear to be alright.

My blood counts were unbelievably solid with platelets at 178.  I wound up leaving with no real explanation for the bruises.  Sometimes I feel like I overreact with this stuff, but then I try to replay it in my head after the fact and I don't feel like I did.  When my wife saw the bruises she was concerned and when they first examined me before the results of the blood work were back, they were not unimpressed by the bruises, in fact they put in an IV and the nurse told me they were planning to transfuse me.  Of course when the results came back the doctor didn't know what to say and became kind of dismissive.  I asked if my counts were ok then why do I have the bruises, he said he thought I had a mosquito bite and I just scratched to hard.  That kind of pissed me off, he knew damn well this had nothing to do with the mosquito bite.  I said "what about the other bruises".  He didn't have a response and just told me to follow up with my doctor.  I'm inclined to believe that, as often the case, Trey is right in his assessment and this is some kind of side effect where the capillaries are breaking easily.  I'll have to keep an eye on it.  It doesn't hurt and if I know to be careful I suppose I can keep it from happening most of the time.  I'm just glad my counts didn't bottom out.  I try not to be negative but I always feel like I'm waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me.  I know most of us feel this way on a regular basis.

As I walked out of the cancer center urgent care ward I walked past so many people in beds and wheel chairs, so unbelievably sick, it is quite humbling and sad.  Sometimes I'll ask myself "why me?, why did I get cancer?".  Today I asked myself "why me? why do I get to walk out of here?".  I guess some questions are better left unasked.

I often hear people say they've lost their mind.  I haven't lost my mind, but I have certainly lost my peace of mind.

Time to go home and hug the kids

Thanks to everyone for the quick responses and support, it helped reading the messages while I was in the waiting room.  I particularly got a kick out of gunner's response.  As I sat in the waiting room surrounded by very sick people, my nerves weighing on me, I read gunners post and pictured the image of a theological figure on my chest and everyone crowding around to see it - I laughed out loud (something most people don't do in the cancer ER).  Thanks for that!

[LivingWellWithCML]

That's really good news, Lucky - and welcome back home. One positive I see from this experience -- it is good to know that they can rush you right in if needed.  The responsiveness (in light of all of the sicker patients that they deal with on a daily basis) is impressive, so you know that your onc's office is there and looking out for you!

Dan

[lala]

Glad you're ok.....Lala

[Pin]

Hi Lucky,

There's been a few discussions on an Australian forum about skin easily bruising/bleeding. I think Trey might be right, because another side effect that has been reported is bleeding in the eyes, which might be due to blood vessels weakening? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that other people have reported this type of thing too. It also sounds like an effect that comes on after a while of being on the medication.

Skin bruising and bleeding:

http://talkbloodcanc...23&catid=7#5923

http://talkbloodcanc...=6&limitstart=0

Eye bleeds:

http://talkbloodcanc...=6&limitstart=0

Cheers,

Pin

[CallMeLucky]

Good information Pin - thanks for sharing

[grannyd]

So happy for your good news----granny d

[Happycat]

Lucky,

Late to the party, but let me say you were absolutely correct to get it checked out and don't feel like a pest for taking charge of your own health!  It pays to be proactive - my twins are here on this earth because their mom was PPP (pregnant, proactive and paraoid).  I just had this feeling (and knew from other twin mom online) that I'd have problems, so when the MFM said come back in 3 wks for an ultrasound, I went and made the appt for 2 wks.  He said 2 wks, I made the appt for 10 days.  Anyway, they caught the dilation in the nick of time and slapped me in the hospital on my back for 3 mo - but it got them here.

Regarding the bruising, I had the same kind of bruising starting about a year before I was dx'd with CML.  I had gotten into poison ivy.  They put me on prednisone, and I noticed after that when I scratched, I started bruising underneath.  I just figured it was the prednisone.  I got some other rash along with the poison ivy (makes me wonder if my immune system was getting messed up by the CML), and I would scratch and still get the bruises, even when I stopped taking prednisone.  I saw my doctor and two dermatologists, but no one could tell me why I was bruising underneath.  In hindsight, I'm thinking it might have been a sign of platelet dysfunction caused by CML.

When I had another cortisone shot for my neck in March, and then got those really huge bruises and hematoma, that tore it and I went to my doctor and showed him all those bruises again and insisted on a blood test.  And here I am with all of you, lol!

Not saying your bruising is necessarily a sign of resurgent CML, but I totally agree you've got to get it checked out.  Don't ever feel guilty about that.

I will also agree with you that going to the oncologist and sitting in the waiting room is a very humbling experience.  My onc only sees people with blood cancers, so those are the only cancer patients I see, but looking at what some of them are struggling with makes my little old complaints about foot cramps seem kinda small in comparison.  I usually leave there saying prayers for this or that person I saw in the waiting room and thanking the Lord for blessing me with what is relatively good health.  It's a good reminder to count the blessings I do have.

Traci