What issue do patients whose CML is in remission need to be aware of?
People who have achieved remission of CML with drugs such as Gleevec, should be aware of and on the lookout for two important issues, according to Dr. Kalaycio. The first issue is medication compliance — you’ve got to keep taking your medicine for the rest of your life, even if you feel better. “The biggest problem we have with Gleevec is the person not taking their medicine,” says Dr. Kalaycio. “If treatment milestones [like those mentioned above] aren’t being met, my first question is, ‘Are you taking your medicine?'” In Dr. Kalaycio’s experience, common reasons people who stop taking their medicine include the cost of treatment, that the person feels better and that they think because their disease is in remission they can discontinue treatment. The second issue is that Gleevec can negatively interact with other drugs, especially some cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins. The toxicity of other drugs can be increased when you’re on Gleevec, says Dr. Kalaycio. Be sure to tell every
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