Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

I have Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, also known as CML. Briefly, the disease occurs when what is called the Philadelphia gene breaks off and reattaches itself elsewhere in the DNA. It keeps the white blood cells from fully maturing, and over time the body is flooded with immature white blood cells that are useless against infections. Some people do not realize that leukemia is a form of cancer. Until a few years ago this form of leukemia was an automatic death sentence. Most victims died within a couple years or so. Thankfully, there is a relative new drug on the market that works for most CML patients. It is called Gleevec, or Imatinib Mesylate. So far, I am in the percentage of patients that do well on Gleevec.

When I was first diagnosed with CML it was a total surprise. I had not been feeling very well, mainly fatigued and run down. I also had some soreness in my lower abdomen and blood in my stool. To make a long story short, my doctor did some blood tests and I was diagnosed with leukemia. I also found out that I have colitis which is an inflammation of the colon. It can cause pain, diarrhea, and bleeding. I was admitted to the hospital immediately and that same day the bleeding became severe. Treatment for my symptoms began, and with medication the bleeding subsided after a few days. I was released from the hospital and began my lifelong battle with cancer. As of now, CML is not curable, it is only treatable. That is good enough for me, however.

My oncologist is Dr. Jerome Goldsmidt with Blue Ridge Cancer Care in Christiansburg, Virginia. As I am sure most cancer patients do, I have developed a special relationship with my doctor and his staff. His first move was to put me on the Gleevec. Within a few months we started seeing results. Within a year the leukemia was not showing up in my blood. Then it was time for the real fun to begin. Can you say, "Bone marrow biopsy?"

If you are reading this, perhaps you or someone you know has just been diagnosed with CML and are wondering what to expect. Of all the things one may find out concerning treatment, the thing people dread the most is probably the bone marrow biopsy. I admit I was nervous about it myself. Getting a hole bored through my butt and into the pelvic bone did not sound like very much fun. I looked the procedure up on the internet through Google. I saw the tools used and looked at pictures of the series of steps. The only thing I did not know about it was the level of pain I would have to cope with. As for my experience, I have had worse things done to me. I have had several heart catheters over the years, for instance, and personally, I'd rather have a bone marrow biopsy. The area where the tool will be inserted is numbed. That smarts some, but no more than any other injection. I have never felt any discomfort in my butt where the muscles are concerned during or after the procedure. There is no way to numb the bone so when the tool contacts it, you feel it. As the doctor twists the tool to bore the hole, I did have some discomfort. I never was good at rating pain, but on a scale of one to ten I would estimate the pain at a 50. No! No! I am just kidding! A five at most. I have had several of those procedures done, and I usually tell the doctor to hurry up about three times, argue with him about which of us is the bigger pain in the butt for a few minutes and then it is over. The whole thing lasts no longer than five or ten minutes from numbing to finish. There is never any discomfort to the area when it is over, at least not for me.

During my last visit to Dr. Goldsmidt, I was told that unless it started showing up in my blood again, no more bone marrow biopsies would be performed. That did not hurt my feelings any. I have responded well to the Gleevec thus far, and hopefully it will continue to work for me in the years to come. I am going on my third year with CML. As with any treatment there are trade offs. In my case, although the leukemia is controlled, I have some side effects from the drug. I will not go into detail about them here since those vary from person to person. Some people have side effects initially then they ease up later. Regardless, the benefits of Gleevec far outweigh any discomforts or conditions I have to put up with. To die from CML would not be a simple matter of passing quietly into that good night.

I often think of those who have died from CML just before Gleevec came out on the market. What if I had got the disease a few years before? I would not be here now. For many people suffering from cancer and other diseases in this world it seems their lives often end with too little too late. Thankfully, with Gleevec, CML patients have been given a reason to hope and look beyond the veil cancer often casts over sufferers, keeping them from seeing anything but their condition. Cancer sucks, but I do not have to sit around and worry about it.

Jeff