Jana
Jana had a blood test in September for evidence of CML that
showed that she still shows no evidence of the disease. It’s been about 2.5 years since she last showed
any sign of the disease. She feels good
all the time and is active in a group that sings at assisted living centers and
in volunteering at the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Center where her mother
lived before her death.
Yesterday I read a summary of a new research study that
produced this Take Home Message:
This study was a long-term follow up (median, 77 months) of a
previously reported study in which 100 patients with CML with undetectable
minimal residual disease (MRD) after 2 years of therapy had Gleevec
discontinued and were followed. Only 61
of 100 patients developed molecular recurrence during the prolonged follow-up. The 5-year molecular relapse–free survival was
38%. Of the 61 patients who relapsed, 57
restarted therapy. As many as 97% of retreated
patients achieved a second undetectable MRD status.
We find these to be very hopeful findings.
David
I completed my 36 cardiac rehabilitation sessions last
month. I grew somewhat stronger over the
course of treatment, but not as much as I would have liked. I am trying to exercise at home and have been
somewhat successful at walking on the treadmill regularly; however, I still
become fatigued easily. A trip to the
grocery store can wear me out. On the
other hand, a couple of weeks ago I drove us through the mountains on a 175
mile trip to see the yellow aspens.
The big news is that I’m being considered for a clinical
trial at the U of Colorado Hospital.
This is exciting because the trial is testing two immunological cancer
treatments. The drugs are designed to
remove the camouflage (antigens PD-L1 and IDO) from my cancer cells so my
T-cells can kill them. To be included
the patient had to have tumors that express one and/or both of the antigens. I learned yesterday that my cells express
PD-l1. I have a start-of-the trial exam,
lab work, and CT on Thursday.
David
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