Hi everyone
I hope these crazy Covid times find you all safe under the circumstances.
This is just a theory I have regarding Vitamin D (which scuba and others have posted about often here) and I would like to share a recent result with you. I have had CML since 2015 and have had a really slow response on dasatinib, followed by unusual side effects necessitating a change to imatinib, and I've been on 400mg since May 2018. I reached MMR at 24 months and have retained it ever since.
Last year I was fortunate to have 6 months sabbatical and I travelled to China, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia on three consecutive trips. During this time I was in the sun very often - for approximately 6 to 8 hours a day. In the two BCR-Abl tests I had in that time, my levels dropped to a record low - they were around 0.03% before the trips and reached 0.006% and 0.005% (the last one was in March this year).
Here in South Africa we have been on various stages of lockdown since 26 March and various things have been prohibited. A major prohibition was a lengthy ban on exercise in public spaces. This, together with my changed work circumstances (having to work from home because of the CML) and the winter approaching in South Africa meant that I have hardly spent any time in the sun since then.
It was no surprise to me that my latest test showed a significant increase to 0.011% (just out of MR4). I haven't done anything different during this time apart from spending virtually all my time indoors. It may be a coincidence, but I firmly believe that lower Vitamin D levels are the reason for this increased result!
Now that the ban has been lifted and we're in the last month of winter, I will make a point of going out into the sun for at least an hour each day. I'll be very interested to see what my next blood test will show and will keep everyone updated.
Best wishes from Johannesburg
Martin