This weekend I am celebrating my 10th CML anniversary. I'ts been a bumpy ride and 'Luke the Dragon' has really given me some difficult times. Now I can reflect back on those years with a strange mixture of joy and happiness in all I and my family have achieved, and a large tinge of sadness at the limits CML has put on me.
The greatest achievement over these years must belong to the doctors and scientists who have made living with CML a possibility for so very many of us.
When I was diagnosed Glivec wasn't available in the UK on the NHS. Sandy, Elizabeth, I and many others fought long and hard to get it available. I was one of the first to take it, in Feb 2002. Glivec kept me going for years, a strange life full of side effects and hope for the future. The new TKI's have helped many people who had problems with Glivec, and I am one. Now on Nilotinib my PCR hoovers around 0.004 bobbling up a bit and then down again. In all the years zero has eluded me!
Life with CML is LIFE, and I give thanks every day for that. Today I will be with my family, the most important people in my life, two young grandsons I never thought I'd see, my wonderful daughter and her husband, my fantastic son and his partner, and of course my support, help, carer, and ever patient husband Bill.
Love to you all and special thanks to Sandy, Elizabeth and everyone who has made this space available for us all to 'meet up' and continue the fight for CMLers.
Pennie
Dx sept 11th 2001.
