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Spleen Pain After Being On Gleevec...

Hi there, I was diagnosed with CML in February of 2009 and started taking Gleevec (400mg) in March. I had an enlarged spleen but after being on Gleevec for a few months it went back to normal. Every once in a while I start having spleen pain again that lasts a few days and it has started again today. I'm in total remission and all levels have been where they're supposed to be for several months. Even though I'm in remission does the CML still cause spleen pain at times ?  I go back for my 6 month bone marrow biopsy and check up next month. Thank you !

Do you mean that you only have blood tests every 6 months? If so it might be advisable for you to call your doctor/clinic and ask if you can bring forward your appointment. I am not sure that you should be having such pain.

However, It might be that the pain is from other causes even though you might feel it is centred on your spleen- so better to check you blood levels. You really should have them checked every 3 months rather than 6.... but I suppose that depends on where you are treated.

I hope this is of some help.... but I advise you to call your clinic if the pain persists.

Sandy

Hi Sandy, no I have check ups every 3 months but the bone biopsies are every 6 months now with the Gleevec trial clinic.

hi there.

can i just say that the pain from my spleen was the reason i went to the doctors in the first place, otherwise i still wouldnt have known that i had cml!

the doc told me that because the spleen was so big, it would take a while to shrink back to normal and when it is healing itself it will cause some discomfort, i was diagnosed in may 10 and everynow and then i still get the odd niggle from that area.  i think it went through a lot and will take a while to heal properly!! only my opinion though, it wont hurt to go and get it checked out though!!

take care, alison.xx

Hey Alison, I had quite a bit of pain at first too but it has pretty much stopped. It only happens every now and then but I've been on Gleevec for a year and 3 months, so it's really odd.

hi!

things do take a while to settle completley, all the nerves will be mending and nerve damage can hurt and take a while to get back to normal.

i went to manchester yesterday for my checkup, and the doc could hardly feel my spleen, he had me lying in all sorts of funny positions!! when i first went you only had to push ever so slightly to feel it!

That's great news Alison ! Congrats !

Glad to hear your Dr said it could hurt a bit while mending.
I too have had some discomfort from the spleen the past 2 days, i also had this 2-3 days prior to my first checkup about 1.5 weeks ago, but suddenly the pain disappeared and the spleen got smaller. (Its definatly smaller now than on last checkup thank god)
I am just hoping this will be the case this time as well. I tend to feel my stomach a lot these days to feel if i can feel my spleen when laying down, sometimes i can, and sometimes i cant,it seems to get more tender during the evening/nights, maybe its because ive been poking at it all day :)