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Lucas on 13 August 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 9

Last updated: 6 September 2014

time delay in PCR test
by Lucas (Sep 6)

Hi sandy. how are you?
I have one more question about PCR: if the amounts of a control gene are less than 10.000 transcripts, the result will fluctuate up or down (or both)?
p.s.:My lab runs pcr

by Lucas (Aug 20)

i just got my 7 month pcr: 2.91% IS. The 5 month pcr was really a mistake :)

by sandy craine (Aug 14)

Hi Lucas... yes, 'shipping time' and then any additional time taken once it arrives at the lab. Glad you can choose which lab will do you q-PCR, but it will depend on how quickly the courier can get

by Lucas (Aug 14)

Hi sandy! Thanks for the insight! when you say "time taken for the sample to reach the lab" you mean the shipping time and the time to run the test or only the shipping time? I'll decide with my
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 9

Last updated: 6 September 2014
clair merritt on 12 August 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 13

Last updated: 19 August 2014

Swollen joints
by sandy craine (Aug 19)

Clair,
Professor Charlie Craddock is the Leukaemia specialist at QE. I think he has now moved over to Acute Leukaemias but his background is definitely in CML. He was my doctor when he was still at

by clair merritt (Aug 18)

Thx for your reply Sandy. No we didn't see a CML doctor to be honest we never do! She has appointments tomorrow and Wednesday for chest and autoimmune and has clinic next week for CML. Do you know

by sandy craine (Aug 18)

Clair,

I can see why you are concerned. I agree that rising wbc should be investigated. Did she see a doctor who is expert in CML? Is there any way you can ask to see the haematologist and ask

by clair merritt (Aug 17)

Jess was discharged late Friday evening, wasn't to happy about this as she's still not right. They keep saying that they don't think it's cml related as she has been stable on imatinib for a while.
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 13

Last updated: 19 August 2014
Lucas on 6 August 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 8

Last updated: 11 August 2014

big pcr differences between laboratories
by Lucas (Aug 11)

Hi sandy, I'm passing just to say that i had another cbc today. all normal (no band cell) and my platelets are a little higher (87k) and neutrophils too (1.7k). creatinine is normal too. Thanks for

by Lucas (Aug 8)

everyone has between 3-5% band cell in the blood. i had 6% in mine.

by Lucas (Aug 8)

Hi sandy, it wasn't blast, so relax. it's a kind of immature neutrophil, a band neutrophil. no blast, no metamyelocyte, etc. I'll have another cbc on monday. :)

by sandy craine (Aug 8)

Hi Lucas,

when you say you had immature cells show up in your cbc, do you mean blast cells? ..... and what do you mean by 1% above normal range. When you have had an infection it is normal
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 8

Last updated: 11 August 2014
ladybug1802 on 6 August 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 6

Last updated: 3 November 2014

New Member/Anyone in Surrey??
by daniellaw (Nov 3)

Hi Angela,
Sorry, I've only just seen your post as I only visit the site every now and again. I was diagnosed just over 12 years ago when I was pregnant with my second son. To say it was a shock was

by sandy craine (Aug 7)

Hi Angela and welcome,
As Chris and Olivia have already said... things will get better for you over the coming months and you will eventually understand the clinical terms and acronyms.
I would

by ladybug1802 (Aug 7)

Thanks guys...yes I am finding it very scary at the moment. I just keep thinking, what if the drugs do not work? And I know I should think positive, and sometimes I do and feel it will all be fine

by Olivia (Aug 7)

Hello Angela
You will indeed find plenty of information on this site. I'd just like to recommend a book by Jessica Wapner, an American scientific journalist, called The Philadelphia Chromosome,
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 6

Last updated: 3 November 2014
michael2010 on 5 August 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 7 August 2014

New Forum Member
by sandy craine (Aug 7)

Hi and welcome to this forum, I do hope you will find the discussions useful and supportive.
Obviously you are doing well on imatinib as you do not suffer unduly from side effects, which is a bonus

by cdw5000 (Aug 6)

Hello mate,
welcome to an exclusive club. You and I are the same age and were diagnosed in the same year. Great to hear you're doing well on imatinib, i'm on nilotinib and doing ok. I do find the

by michael2010 (Aug 5)

Hello everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself as a new member of the forum. My name is Michael, and I am a 36 year old CML patient, diagnosed in the summer of 2010. Currently on imatinib, 400mg
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 7 August 2014
jeffcarroll34 on 30 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 5 August 2014

Imatinib (Gleevec) VS Dasatinib (Sprycel)
by sandy craine (Aug 5)

Hi,

I think Rods advice is good. It depends on your insurance and the cost between the two you mention. Also it depends on whether you have any co-morbidities/other health issues that may

by RodM (Jul 31)

Hi
Ultimately you should decide in consultation with your doctor, however I was very keen to use Dasatinib over Imatinib doe to the statistically demonstrated faster and deeper responses it brings,

by jeffcarroll34 (Jul 30)

So I have been recently diagnosed with CML. I am a healthy 33 year old male.
I am a Canadian, but I have been living in the USA for the last 6 months. During a trip to Canada, I was
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 5 August 2014
Smahmood on 29 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 7 August 2014

Bilateral femoral marrow infiltrative disease
by Smahmood (Aug 7)

Hi Sandy,
Thank you for your reply.

I had a bone marrow biopsy on Monday and once the results are back then I will see Prof Apperly.
I will keep you updated.
Thanks
Shahid

by sandy craine (Aug 5)

Hi Shahid, sorry I cannot help you on this. I have attempted a few searches on Bilateral femoral marrow infiltrative disease' and from my understanding it can have several causes. I think you need

by Smahmood (Jul 29)

Hello,
I was wondering if someone has come across "Bilateral femoral marrow infiltrative disease".
I was having some swelling/discomfort around my left hip joint; i went to my GP and she asked me
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 7 August 2014
David Fitz on 29 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 6

Last updated: 8 August 2014

Drugs to avoid when on TKIs (article)
by sandy craine (Aug 8)

Hi Louisa,

Our policy is to protect our forum members privacy so we do not encourage posting private email addresses here as it is an open forum and anyone could access and use the email

by Luisa (Aug 7)

Sandy is right, I can access and download for free many "pay for" papers through the university but I cannot share the links.I don't know what the policy of this forum is regarding giving members

by sandy craine (Aug 5)

If you buy the PDF of a published document of this kind (with restrictions on use) you can't publish it or share it on a public platform like this. That is why I could not put it on our home page, I

by nithisevaguru (Aug 5)

Hi Luisa can you kindly share the document that talks about the drugs to avoid?
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 6

Last updated: 8 August 2014
vickiep on 1 September 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 8 September 2014

Cholesterol
by vickiep (Sep 8)

Thank you Gerry, very Helpful. Any evidence to suggest that TKI's increase levels of Cholesterol in the first place?

Thanks

Vickie

by Gerry (Sep 2)

My experience with the statin Lipator and Glivec, was that the statin appeared to hang around in the liver for longer. My cholesterol went into the low end 3.1

I had gone down to the lowest

by vickiep (Sep 1)

What information, if any, do we have to support muted "evidence" that TKI's increase the level of Cholesterol? Also, I have seen a posting from the US suggesting that Sprycel increases the
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 8 September 2014
ashu1103 on 27 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 1

Last updated: 31 July 2014

Probable cause of CML
by RodM (Jul 31)

Interestingly, I had both an X-Ray to find a kidney Stone about 30 months before diagnosis, and a further CT-Scan (which did find it) 24 months before DX. I was 15x normal white cells at DX and a

by ashu1103 (Jul 27)

HI all,

i am CML patient from India. In october i had donated blood at that time my CBC report were normal, but during a routine test in december my TLC was 96000 i have been a kidney stone
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 1

Last updated: 31 July 2014
DanRosewarne on 25 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 14

Last updated: 30 July 2014

Recently Diagnosed from New Zealand
by Gerry (Jul 30)

Grapefruit affects your CYP3A4 concentrations - which can make your Gleevec etc hang around in your liver for longer. This means there is a potential that your side effects will increase.

http

by David Fitz (Jul 28)

A glass of grapefruit juice affects CYP3A4 concentrations for about 3 days - so needs to be avoided entirely, really. Seville Orange juice is nearly as potent (in CYP3A4 interaction terms) as

by David Fitz (Jul 28)

.

by ginger (Jul 28)

Dear Sandy,
I appreciate all that you write. I was diagnosed (shockingly as everyone else) in January, 2014 and am on Sprycel 100mg. Went from 100% to 20% to .385% to .365% in 6 mos and am now on a
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 14

Last updated: 30 July 2014
Lucas on 18 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 13

Last updated: 14 August 2014

pcr-6 months
by ginger (Aug 14)

Dear Sandy,

Thank you for your information. It really helps me with clarity.

I was 100% at diagnosis; 20% IS a month later; .385% IS at 3 mos and .365%IS at 6 mos. I thought Sprycel

by sandy craine (Aug 5)

Dear Akash,
very good to hear you PCR result has continued to drop. I am sure you will see further reductions in BCR-ABL1 percentages as the months go on and will reach MR3 -0.1%- soon.

by ashu1103 (Aug 5)

hi sandy

i was very concerned after my 6 months pcr which was 1.4 , doc told me that it should be below 1 bcoz at 3 months it was 5.876, but i am relieved bcoz after 7month it is 0.781.

by Lucas (Jul 29)

hi ginger.
MCYR (less than 35% ph+) is the amount of ph+ in the marrow. A MMR is a pcr of 0.1% or less. Sprycel is a very good medication and you probably will hit MMR sooner than i. Good luck!!!
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 13

Last updated: 14 August 2014
sandy craine on 15 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 9

Last updated: 22 July 2014

Prognosis for patients with CML and >10% BCR-ABL1 after 3 months of imatinib depends on the rate of BCR-ABL1 decline
by Lucas (Jul 22)

Well, i think this paper correlates with this one:
http://www.cancernetwork.com/chronic-myeloid-leukemia/bcr-abl-cutoffs-3-...
We all want to be fast responder but, as everyone says: it's a marathon

by sandy craine (Jul 22)

Thanks for your very helpful view on this Luisa, insightful as usual.
Sandy

by sandy craine (Jul 22)

I am really not that clear what the authors mean, but thinking about it- and I am no expert, baselines generated from samples taken at diagnosis often vary because it depends on how many normal ABL

by Lucas (Jul 21)

the response is individual. some people has great prognosis but fail and some people has a bad prognosis but get good responses. i think this paper show us another information: the importance to
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 9

Last updated: 22 July 2014
sandy craine on 10 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 19 July 2014

Do you have questions about blood tests?
by sandy craine (Jul 19)

Ashu,

If you need an answer from the Susan LeClair, then you must click on the link in the above post.
However, I will try to help as far as I can.
I am not able to tell you what the 'EAN

by ashu1103 (Jul 17)

hi i am a cml patient

my pcr 3 months back was 5.876

recently it showed pcr 2.23 & below it was written IS-NCN 1.40 (europe against cancer )EAN standard scale

what does this

by sandy craine (Jul 10)

This is a great initiative from Patient Power. It's from their 'ask the expert' series- here you can ask Dr Susan Leclair questions about blood tests .....
Sandy
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 19 July 2014
Lucas on 8 July 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 10 July 2014

BCR-ABL Cutoffs at 3 Months Could Influence CML Treatment
by Lucas (Jul 10)

Hi, thomas! I read about your results!! amazing!! congrats!! i'm envy :p heheh.
I'm fine. my results by 3 months weren't optimal - not by the recent guidelines, but if we were in 2010 they were fine

by Thomaskk (Jul 10)

Hello Lucas
How are you doing with the world cup and CML ? Hope your side effects are minimum now and things are getting back to normal. Do keep in touch
Thomas

by Lucas (Jul 8)

For those, who like me, missed the 10% cut off at 3 months: There is hope. If you were a half log down from your baseline at 3 months, your prognostic is very good too:
Measuring changes in levels
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 10 July 2014
David Fitz on 29 June 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 3

Last updated: 29 June 2014

Antihistamines and TKIs
by David Fitz (Jun 29)

Thanks Sandy - I'll give that a try. The way I view homeopathic remedies is that the worst they can do is nothing at all! So always worth a shot.

by sandy craine (Jun 29)

I suggest that you give homeopathic remedies a try. The following are often prescribed for hay-fever or pollen related allergy etc.
If the reaction is mainly centred on the eyes- itchy and/or sore

by chrissie (Jun 29)

Since taking imatinib (5 years this Sept) I have developed what was finally diagnosed as bad hayfever which, 2 years ago, prevented me from eating so bad had my nose become. I actually lost one and

by David Fitz (Jun 29)

At this time of year, I suffer from a bit of hay fever. Claratin (loratadine) has always been my "go-too" OTC drug in the past.
So, this year I've been getting the itchy eyes and runny nose more
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 3

Last updated: 29 June 2014
sandy craine on 27 June 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 29 June 2014

CML Patients UK National Meeting The Sage Gateshead- 11/10/14
by sandy craine (Jun 29)

Look forward to meeting up again Olivia.
For those who are interested, Prof. O'brien may be able to offer travel and/or accommodation grants. If you think this might help you attend the meeting

by Olivia (Jun 27)

I've just booked, and am looking forward to it. Hope to meet a lot of you there.

Olivia

by sandy craine (Jun 27)

You can book your place here:

www.mpdmeetings.org
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 2

Last updated: 29 June 2014
sandy craine on 23 June 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 4

Last updated: 27 June 2014

Interesting Article for those who take calcium supplements
by Gerry (Jun 27)

Interesting discussion, you usually find it happening the other way, (when an author talks about taking an additional supplement rather than getting it through their food intake). :-)

by darley (Jun 24)

No comparison!
I'm very disappointed to see junk science somewhere like this.
I'm VERY clear that it's the genius of innovative medical science that's kept me alive and about to celebrate 20

by sandy craine (Jun 24)

Hi, sorry you are disappointed, but if we only read peer reviewed articles and waited for the scientific community to catch on, then I don't think many of us would be here-

given the

by darley (Jun 23)

That's just written by a self proclaimed health "expert".
It's not a proper peer group reviewed scientific nor medical article.
The credibility (and even the authenticity) of the author is a bit
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 4

Last updated: 27 June 2014
martin1960 on 19 June 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 1

Last updated: 20 June 2014

Targets
by nigel (Jun 20)

Hi Martin,
I like you am on imatinib, 2.5 years now. My results were slower than yours, 24% at 3 months and 15% at 6 months. We discussed a change but as I was / am very well and no side effects and

by martin1960 (Jun 19)

Hi everbody;

It would be good to get some feedback on the following
Today I was given my results as follows

At DX BCR ABL 66.5%

At 3 months 10.9%

At 6 months 5.1 %
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 1

Last updated: 20 June 2014
Bee on 18 June 2014

Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 5

Last updated: 19 June 2014

!3 years today
by karen (Jun 19)

13 years is great - let's hope he has many many more to go
Kx

by sandy craine (Jun 19)

Hi Bee,
good to hear Ted is still doing so well. Thanks so much for the update and congratulations to you both on a wonderful outcome from an amazing drug. I think many may not be aware of just how

by Bee (Jun 18)

Absolutely!!

by Thomaskk (Jun 18)

Incredible. See you after another 13 years :)
Category: Uncategorised

Replies: 5

Last updated: 19 June 2014