Treating CML with Interferon and ARA C

gheart
gheart Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Leukemia #1
I'm newly diagnosed with CML (three weeks ago.)It's been suggested to consider Interferon combined with (ARA C?) STI-571 (Glivec is due out this Fall) I was wondering about the early side effects of starting on Interferon, and/or what others that have been recently diagnosed have decided to do. (ie. Start on Interferon or wait until STI-571 (Glivec) becomes available???) Thanks for your assistance and personal experiences.

Comments

  • pmtpa
    pmtpa Member Posts: 3
    I have a friend who has been treated with Interferon & ARA-c for CML. I will ask her if she will contact you and tell you her opinion on the treatment. She has been in a clinical trial, and was recently put on the ST1-571 in the clinical trial. She is now doing so much better! I hope you are able to go on that new medicine in Aug.. It seems like wonderful stuff. I can't advise you on whether to start treatment or not, as I am a survivor of a different kind of leukemia, and had different treatment. I suppose a lot would depend on whether you could benefit from it right now, and if it is safer to be on the Interferon or not on anything, and whether you would become worse by not doing anything.
    I would be happy if you replied, if you feel yuo'd like to.
  • gheart
    gheart Member Posts: 3
    pmtpa said:

    I have a friend who has been treated with Interferon & ARA-c for CML. I will ask her if she will contact you and tell you her opinion on the treatment. She has been in a clinical trial, and was recently put on the ST1-571 in the clinical trial. She is now doing so much better! I hope you are able to go on that new medicine in Aug.. It seems like wonderful stuff. I can't advise you on whether to start treatment or not, as I am a survivor of a different kind of leukemia, and had different treatment. I suppose a lot would depend on whether you could benefit from it right now, and if it is safer to be on the Interferon or not on anything, and whether you would become worse by not doing anything.
    I would be happy if you replied, if you feel yuo'd like to.

    Thanks for your reply. I just missed getting into the Glivec trial by two weeks! Would love to hear from your friend as to his/her experience. My email address is gheart71@aol.com. Thanks again. wayne
  • geraldine
    geraldine Member Posts: 2
    My husband recently had a stem cell transplant. The latest news we heard is that Glivec is due out in June. Good luck with your decision.
  • gheart
    gheart Member Posts: 3
    pmtpa said:

    I have a friend who has been treated with Interferon & ARA-c for CML. I will ask her if she will contact you and tell you her opinion on the treatment. She has been in a clinical trial, and was recently put on the ST1-571 in the clinical trial. She is now doing so much better! I hope you are able to go on that new medicine in Aug.. It seems like wonderful stuff. I can't advise you on whether to start treatment or not, as I am a survivor of a different kind of leukemia, and had different treatment. I suppose a lot would depend on whether you could benefit from it right now, and if it is safer to be on the Interferon or not on anything, and whether you would become worse by not doing anything.
    I would be happy if you replied, if you feel yuo'd like to.

    Wht "Thank you" for your thoughts. I've decided to wait until Glivec becomes available. I understand that it should be approved in June/July and available shortly thereafter.