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pcr result

Hi all

 

Although this is my first post, I have been following this site for a couple of years and through it I have found great strength. At this moment I feel I need some help. My husband was diaognosed wth cml in June 2009 and agreed to participate on the spirit 2 trial in which he was given dastinib.  His platelets were  constantly low and he was forever having to stop the treatment in order for them to improve. His pcr never came lower than 7%, and his bone marrow test results only showed a partial cytogenetic response. His consultant was concerned and mentioned a bone marrow transplant, however it was agreed first to come out of the trial and try a new drug Tasigna , which I have to say he is tolorating very well with minimal side effects. He started Tasigna in June 2011. After meeting with the consultant this week he still seems to want us to go down the transplant route as the pcr results from November 2011 were 1.59% and he said  this is still not good enough. Im so confused I thought this was a pretty good result bearing in mind he is leading a normal life eg, going out, holidays and working full time, he also feels and looks so well. I'm  worried about the trasplant route as we have a young family.  Please help!

Hi Lizzie,

I can understand why you would worry about the option of a transplant. I would say that a drop from 7% (pcr) to 1.59% in 5 months on Tasigna is pretty good considering. I am not sure where he is treated and/or whether the lab that does the pcr test uses the international scale ? but maybe you could clarify that.

according to my knowledge. 1.59% bcr/abl = Complete cytogenetic response.

I assume this test is from a sample given at least 4 weeks ago - maybe more? I ask that because if he had results from a sample given this week it might well be even lower. 

Don't panic- and take time to consider the options. Depending on where he is treated maybe a 2nd opinion might be the way to go?

Best wishes,

Sandy