Hi CML Support
I was diagnosed in June 2019 with CML and I start taking Imatinib 400 mg once a day.
My wbc was 32 In june 26 and In September 6 my wbc is 6
My BCR-ABL was 107.979 In June 26 and In September my BCR is 18.854
I get my result online I did`not see my Oncology yet , In September 17 my appointment .
During this period I was suffering nausea , stomach pain and tiredness all the time .
Do I should ask my Doctor to order for me Fish and Pcr test he never did this test for me.
Thank you
I think your BCR/ABL results are your PCR. PCR is the method used. Ask your oncologist to be sure though. You did not reach 10 which is ideal for 3 months but it is trending in the right direction and you may be under 10 at your next result. A lot of symptoms and pain are not uncommon early after starting treatment. I think your symptoms will subside and numbers will go down. Take care and keep us posted.
Hi Sue, I don't understand your last comment. I think it's difficult sometimes to figure out exactly which tests have been done by our doctors because the terminology isn't always the same between clinics. Here's a list of the tests my doctor ordered during my diagnosis. I think he was very thorough from what I've heard from other CML folk through the years.
1. Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) Report BCR-ABL1
2. Cytogenetic Analysis Report
3. Hematopathology Report
4. BCR-ABL1 Fusion Transcript Analysis by PCR
5. Complete blood counts and comprehensive metabolic panel
(Edit: forgot one)
6. Ultrasound of the spleen to check for enlargement.
My doctor didn't give me copies of these reports until I asked him for all of my test results. Only the CBC and CMP results were available to me online until recently. With my last PCR test the results were finally available online for download and I've been at this for seven years now.
Like ColoradoGuy said, it looks like the numbers you gave above were from PCR tests. It would give you more information if your doctor ordered a FISH test, but they might not consider it necessary since your PCR has come down since your initial PCR test. It wouldn't hurt to ask about it though.
Good luck at your appointment this week!
Kirk
Hi
Thanks Krik for your reply.I had appointment with my oncology yesterday, and he told me Pcr and Bcr are the same , and my next blood test for Bcr after three months and I should be under 10 than I will be safe . I don`t like that at all I ask him to do Bcr test for me every month he refused.I have tiny blood spot near my neck the doctor told me kind of mole.I don`t know what to do, I`m unhappy about the care I receive from my Doctor .
Sue
The tests are quite expensive and testing every three months is the normal approach. At three months I had similar results BCR-ABL1 positive 17% and Ph positive 15%. So I too did not meet the target. In subsequent tests, the trend has been downwards albeit I am not meeting targets. I am told that this is not a cause for alarm. My haematologist did instigate a mutation test which came back negative.
The test is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which is used in medicine and science for many things - not just CML testing.
However, in the case of CML the PCR test is looking for the existence of a gene called BCR-Abl - hence the PCR/BCR confusion patients often have.
If you'd like to know more about PCR testing, read our booklet here:
https://cmlsupport.org.uk/node/20097
David.
Thank you very much you make me feel better about my Bcr result.My Doctor scared me .
