Gleevec and liver cancer
Common Questions and Answers about Gleevec and liver cancer
gleevec
I was diagnosed with CML and given Gleevec 400 ml. After taking gleevec for 2 weeks doctor took additional blood test. My WBC dropped from 36.5 to 7.1 and all other blood counts came down to normal range. I'm wondering if gleevec could give such fast hematological response or I was possibly misdiagnosed originally. I don't and didn't have any symptoms, my spleen and liver weren't enlarged, no enlarged lymph. Should I get second opinion asap? Please, help me.
I was diagnosed last year and was immediatley put on gleevec 400mg/day.At my last consult my metabolic stats had risen,hence blood tests to determine if the gleevec is no longer working.I am still in firstphase and wonder what my options are if the gleevec is no longer an option.Amin pretty good form,just very tired and a lot of bone pain.
Hi, I don't know the answer -- but since both CML and Gleevec toxicity produce anemia because of marrow suppression, maybe it's not possible to tell the difference. E.g., both would show a low reticulocyte count.
This full text paper on anemia from Gleevec https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajh.23879 shows that other signs such as red blood cell size can vary, so that doesn't seem to help. Sorry.
t want to see me, that fever was not from gleevec, and that I needed to monitor myself by myself by simply taken ibuprofen. This is what I did all last week and only this Monday he did a blood work.
For now, what can I do to help my body to build my immune system back? Any vitamins? I'll appriciate any advice.
I have CML and was treated with Gleevec for 4 years and achieved remission. I have for the past several months been experiencing sudden onset of weakness which last for hours, to days. My blood pressure which has remained under control for several years with atenolol has been running 145/105 and higher for the past three to four months. I have a feeling of fullness in my stomach, and I have sporatic episodes of mild coughing, this occurs maybe once a week.
Hi. Your questions are really liver cancer and liver transplant questions… But since the Medhelp expert Liver Transplant forum is no longer accepting questions, it would be best to post your questions in the cirrhosis forum where the discussion of cirrhosis and its consequences including the development of HCC (liver cancer) and liver transplantation are discussed.
That said...
"we need to wait 8 weeks and do a battery of tests before treatment starts.
HCC is primary liver cancer and almost always develops after a person has cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis is the the environment that HCC needs to develop.
I have HCC myself. I have had two tumors and may have another now. Liver cancer can be controlled if it is caught early when it is small and is not metastatic. Unfortunately if the cancer should spread outside of the liver it is usually fatal within 6 months or so.
Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer of the bile ducts in the liver.
My Mother has bile duct cancer. She had radiation and alittle chemo. Her legs and feet swelled she had to be hospitalized. And treated by wrapping her legs and elavating them and also diuretics. After a month she came home and was doing well, but now has become jaundiced.
Original prognosis was "months to live" but she is now past 18 months since diagnosis.. A stent can be placed in the bile duct (University of Iowa Hospitals), but is tricky and my Mother is too old to handle it.
It's such a difficult and devastating diagnosis, and I'm so sorry to hear that you and your husband are having to deal with this -- my husband too was diagnosed with a similar sized liver cancer in 2007, but he's still here and kicking, and fighting it every step of the way. Don't lose hope -- even your husband is not eligible for transplant, there are other options worth exploring.
Primary liver cancer is fairly unusual, and the presence of a liver cancer usually causes no pain until it is quite progressed, so I believe with clear ultrasound and clear CT-Scan, you can exclude liver cancer as the cause of your pain. (Furthermore, unless you have a pre-existing liver disease such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, hemochromatosis, primary liver cancer would be highly unusual.)
I hope your pain and discomfort is resolved soon, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
My dog has liver cancer and has quite a bit of ascites. He starts getting lethargic, will not eat, and his belly gets huge. We get him tapped then he is his old self again for about a week. It seems like this fluid builds up quickly, and when we look at his belly we feel we have to get it drained becasue it looks extremely uncomfortable. He does not appear to have trouble breathing. How often can we get this done. At present he goes in weekly and they drain about 2 liters.
You must talk to the doctors at a liver transplant center as they are the only specialist with the knowledgeable, experience and resources necessary for a complete diagnoses and evaluation and treatment options for primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
What options may be available depends upon the particulars of the cancer. Size, number of tumors, location, etc.
Best of luck to you.
AFP is only 60% accurate in detecting liver cancer so there are false positives and false negatives. An indication of liver cancer is numbers in the hundred that rise over time or numbers over 500. So there is nothing to worry about. I have liver cancer, End-Stage Liver Disease and hepatitis C. So what I am telling you is based on my own experience.
You are on the start of a journey. Sometime you will never forget for the rest of your life. Try to take it one day at a time.
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