5 replies to this topic

[cml-wife]

I posted before that my husband has been taken off Sprycel, and has been switched to Gleevec. He has yet to start the Gleevec, he was waiting for his counts to come up to start the Gleevec and his counts TO ME have seemed good for the last 2 weeks! But the doc still wants to hold off one more week. I think the doctor might be wrong to wait another week. Or is there something I am not understanding here? He isn't questioning the doctor at all. I think he needs to. I  can't do it as I am on the west coast and he is on the east coast working.

His current results: (the only abnormal is the RDW)

CBC from 9/1

HGB                            14.9     g/dL       12 - 17          [558]

HCT                            44.6     %          36 - 51          [558]

MCV                            85.1     fL         77 - 101         [558]

MCHC                           33.4     g/dL       33 - 36          [558]

WBC                             4.9     K/cmm      3.7 - 9.6        [558]

PLT                             142     K/cmm      123 - 309        [558]

RBC                             5.2     M/cmm      4.2 - 5.4        [558]

MCH                            28.4     uug        26 - 36          [558]

RDW                            18.5 H   %          11.0 - 15.0      [558]

MPV                            10.3     mu3        7.0 - 11.0       [558]

LYMPH %                        25.4      %         15 - 45          [558]

MONO %                         10.2      %         6.0 - 15         [558]

NEUTRO %                       61.6      %         40.0 - 75        [558]

EOS %                           1.8      %         0 - 7.0          [558]

BASO %                            1      %         0 - 2.0          [558]

LYMPH ABSOLUTE CT.             1.24     K/cmm      0.9 - 3.3        [558]

MONO ABSOLUTE CT.               0.5     K/cmm      .30 - 1.1        [558]

NEUTRO ABSOLUTE CT.               3     K/cmm      1.5 - 7.1        [558]

EOS ABSOLUTE CT.               0.09     K/cmm      0 - .7           [558]

BASO ABSOLUTE CT.              0.05     K/cmm      0 - .2           [558]

And Last week:

CBC from 8/17:

    Specimen Collection Date: 08/17/2011 12:45

     Test name                Result    units      Ref.   range   Site Code

HGB                            14.5     g/dL       12 - 17          [558]

HCT                            44.2     %          36 - 51          [558]

MCV                            85.0     fL         77 - 101         [558]

MCHC                           32.8 L   g/dL       33 - 36          [558]

WBC                             4.8     K/cmm      3.7 - 9.6        [558]

PLT                             122 L   K/cmm      123 - 309        [558]

RBC                             5.2     M/cmm      4.2 - 5.4        [558]

MCH                            27.9     uug        26 - 36          [558]

RDW                            18.8 H   %          11.0 - 15.0      [558]

MPV                            10.2     mu3        7.0 - 11.0       [558]

LYMPH %                          32      %         15 - 45          [558]

MONO %                          9.5      %         6.0 - 15         [558]

NEUTRO %                       57.2      %         40.0 - 75        [558]

EOS %                           1.1      %         0 - 7.0          [558]

BASO %                          0.2      %         0 - 2.0          [558]

LYMPH ABSOLUTE CT.             1.52     K/cmm      0.9 - 3.3        [558]

MONO ABSOLUTE CT.              0.45     K/cmm      .30 - 1.1        [558]

NEUTRO ABSOLUTE CT.            2.72     K/cmm      1.5 - 7.1        [558]

EOS ABSOLUTE CT.               0.05     K/cmm      0 - .7           [558]

BASO ABSOLUTE CT.              0.01     K/cmm      0 - .2           [558]

[Trey]

It is not even a close call.  The Onc is clearly wrong to wait this long.  The one absolute in fighting CML is to find the TKI drug that works best and stay on it unless forced to do otherwise.  If the Onc was waiting for the Sprycel to clear out first, that also happened after just a couple days.  Those of us who take these drugs might not question the Onc as fast because we do not like to take the drugs because we feel better without them.  But that is a false sense of security.

[WoofWoof]

I guess my question is-have you asked the doctor?   When I went from Gleevec to Tasigna I was off the Gleevec for about 3 weeks but that was just to make sure it was out of my system. Sprycel has a very short half life so I'm sure it's cycled out of his system by now.

[tranier]

I agree with the guys - call that doc...Is he a CML specialist?  If not is there one nearby?  I would definitely encourage you to see one!       With those counts he should be starting the Gleevec!

Tracy (BJ's mom - 20 year old blast crisis awaiting SCT on 9/27...)

[valiantchong]

I thought Sprycel is the second generation drug which has less side effect and works better than Glivec, why the doc decide to switch ? I thought the protocol is to start eperimenting with lower dosage instead of stopping and switch to Gleevec...  may be move to Tasigna instead of Gleevec... need to find out the reason of switching...

[cml-wife]

He was taken off it after months of lowering the doses and taking drug breaks because his hands started peeling and they thought that he might be showing signs of toxicity.

He is seeing a VA oncologist, I don't think it's a CML specialist. Can he even get a second opinion elsewhere with veterans coverage?