hi all
I am a new member to this forum. I have many doudts about CML.now i am in chronic phase. I want to know whether i will be in this same stage till my end of life or i will switch over to next two phases? and also i want to know whether CML was curable or not? Marriage was possible for a CML patient?please send a reply for these questions
You are here
About CML
Hi Kiruba,
At the time of diagnosis everyone is in a state of shock, that's natural having such news.
It takes a long time to come to terms with it, but you've made a good start by coming to this web site. Here you will find help and support from the various wonderful people who are part of this community.
You will read other peoples experiences, those who have cml as well as those who are their carers (as in my case)
You ask a number of questions, some of these are answered by following links on this site - for example the question about the different stages of cml.
At present, the only known cure is a bone marrow/stem cell transplant - this is not always an option however.
In recent years, the medical treatment of cml has improved considerably especially with the availability of the drug Glivec, and now similar but more potent drugs. So the future is a lot brighter for many with cml due to the effectiveness of these new medications in keeping the condition 'under control'
Are you living in the UK? And which Hospital do you attend?
Have you been commenced on any treatment yet?
Please keep in touch with this site, I'm sure you'll get much help and encouragement here.
Best Wishes
Paul
Hi Kiruba,
People in chronic phase do not die of CML, so that is the good news. The goal of drug treatment right now is to keep you in chronic phase, and not have the disease progress. I have been in chronic phase CML for about 8.5 years now. Most people are doing very well with drug treatment.......many work full time. There is no reason not to get married. There are some mixed opinions about a female with CML having children, but if you get to a good level of 'remission' on drug treatment, there are some women that are having babies. The progress that has been made in the treatment of CML is really amazing and it will continue...we have top researchers working with the goal of finding a cure. Hope this offers you some optimism about CML.
Nancy C.
from Oregon, USA
Hi Kiruba,
Welcome to the club that nobody wants to be a member of.
10 years ago patients were told that they had a 2-5 year life expectancy. Since the introduction of Gleevec and several other new drugs, this has changed dramatically. Nobody diagnosed in the past 5 years has died from CML. The experts say that someone diagnosed in the chronic phase of CML can expect to live out a normal life expectancy.
Not only is marriage possible for CML patients, there are CML patients who have had healthy children and still have CML.
CML is curable, but sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. For a BMT to work, you need an excellent donor match and have youth on your side. There have been some cures reported for patients on Interferon and Gleevec, but these are rare.
The future is bright. I expect that a cure will be available in my lifetime. I am 68.
Zavie
Zavie Miller (age 68)
Ottawa, Canada, dxd AUG/99
INF OCT/99 to FEB/00, CHF
Gleevec since MAR/27/01 (400 mg)
CCR SEP/01. #102 in Zero Club
2.8 log reduction Sep/05
3.0 log reduction Jan/06
> 4 log reduction Nov/06
zmiller@sympatico.ca
Howdy Kiruba
Welcome. Thank goodness we now have this website, a great source of information for all. cml in chronic phase is a bit like diabetes, keep taking the medication and it should stay in this same phase, so no worries there. Life has to adapt a little to accomodate taking the med's, but no reason that you cannot carry on much the same. As has been said before 10 years ago, cml was more than frightening as treatments that were available at that time were quite aggressive, and not always successful, but now no problems. Cml has lived along with me since 1996, so keep your spirits up and enjoy
Have fun and keep smiling
Keith