Hey there,
Just wanted to introduce myself.
I got diagnosed with CML six months ago. I'm responding well to treatment, but have found coming to terms with the diagnosis and how to manage living with CML and treatment side effects a challenge.
I have only just been introduced to this group, but have already found comfort and reassurance from reading forum posts so thank you
6 months is not very long from diagnosis and I am not surprised you are finding it difficult to come to terms with your diagnosis.
Many members of this forum (and there are up to 7500 individuals who visit this site every month-so you are not alone!) who regularly post here will I am sure understand this very well. Please take your time and try to learn as much as possible about how this disease behaves and how it responds to the various treatment options available. The majority do respond very well to one or other of the TKis that are currently available...i.e imatinib- 1st generations TKi... or nilotinib and/or dasatinib- 2nd generation TKis. There are 2 more TKis coming through, namely bosutinib and ponatinib which are currently both still in clinical trials and waiting for EMA or FDA approval.
I suggest you take a look at the video section where you will find CML patients talking about their experiences with TKI therapy.
Please do ask questions here as and when your need to and take comfort from the majority of our many members who over the last 12 years have responded well to TKi therapy and live well with CML.
Best wishes,
Sandy
Hi Maggie
Welcome to the club that nobody really wants to be a member of, if we had the choice !!
As Sandy mentions,all of us who log into this site have gone through exactly the same as you have. It does take a while to adjust,but believe me the further away from the day of diagnosis you get, the easier and more normal things become.
This site is great for just browsing and contibuting the odd comment if you wish. The main thing is that the more you read about CML and reviewing peoples experiences, the more you'll realise we are in a good place.
Just try to go about life as normal if you can, take the tablets and don't let it stop you doing anything.
Take Care
PS It may be worth trying to get to the Glasgow CML Patients Meeting on 17th November, if you can.
Dave M
