6 years to the day, tomorrow (Monday) since I went to see my GP. I had an evening appointment and was sent the following moring for a blood test. On the Wednesday(9.am) I was sent for an ultrasound Scan of my spleen. At 9.20 I received a phone call from my GP to come to see him as I was going to be admitted to hospital as my counts were so high and blood so thick that I was likely to have a stroke at any minute.
That Afternoon I was was admitted to Watford General for further tests and the first of a few BMB's. I was given councelling as I was going to be transferred to Hammersmith in London. I was asked ifIi wanted to freeze some of my sperm in case I wanted to have children and in case I had full Chemo.
I started 6 days later on 200mg of Gleevec and incresaed weekly to 400mg. I had the usual side effects, Weight gain, eye bleeds, muscle pain etc and stayed on gleevec until March this year when I started on Nilotonib (had to wait 9 weeks for PCT to give permission)
Today I think about those early days. Since that day I have started my own business, gone on holiday regularly and have as near a normal life as posible.
On the day of my DX I pleaded with my GP to go private as I had a company health scheme. He said that was not the right course of action as I needed to be within the NHS. How right he was and how grateful I am to him for that advice. The NHS is great especially THE HAMMERSMITH HOSPITAL.
I hope this gives hope for any newbee's. This site has certainly helped. Also the annual seminars where extremely helpful and also excellent to meet with others CML.
I think the next Seminar will be in Southampton later on in the year.
