Bone Marrow Biopsies

[Guest guest]

Hello, Everyone:

I am sitting here and really chuckling! I mean really laughing!

First of all, today is my 3rd anniversary of being on Gleevec. I

just got my BMB/BMA results back from Oregon (see Dr. Druker---

perhaps now you may know why I am laughing)!! I am still

undetectable and on 300 mg of Gleevec. I am now waiting for the

nested test to come back as they only performed the " nested " test IF

you are undetectable!

So, why am I laughing? I go to the BEST! Dr. Druker. He has the

hardest time doing my BMB/BMA and just told me that I will never be

diagnosed with Osteoporosis! My husband and made a " theory " that

since my blood counts were SO MUCH BETTER, that they made a theory

that my BMB/BMA would be easier to do! WRONG! What normally takes

Dr. Druker 5-10 minutes, takes him 25-35 minutes with me! He has

gotten better with me (more patient) because we have both learned

that if he has just taken him time...they sample will come! He

always has the right spot...when it does not come out, he begins to

doubt himself and the location but realizes after " retouching " he is

in the right spot! We all crack little jokes while it is being done

because, what else can you do? So, laughter is the best medicine.

The worst part is that I am a little sore afterwards and

bruised...aren't we all? But I am in very little discomfort during

the procedure except for the pressure! Do I take medication---

nope...only the zylocaine (or whatever he uses to numb the area---I

just ask Dr. Druker to please add a little extra if he has any more---

he is always accomodating!!!) Dr. Druker is the BEST!!

Zavie is absolutley correct---it is technique! Even if your bones

are hard and the marrow does not ike to cooperate, it boils down to

technique! I woudld give up Tall, Dark and Handsome if I knew that

the BMB/BMA was going to be virtually painless!

The good news for me is that I do not need to have another BMB/BMA

for TWO years because I am undetectable...pending the nested (last

time it came back as a " trace " )

So, thank you at your expense for making my three year anniversary a

laughable one!!

Hugs,

Rosenthal

Miami, Florida

DX: January 8, 2003

Began Gleevec 600 mg 4/10/03 (because I needed to get off a

medication)

8/04 reduced Gleevec to 400 mg because of MANY side effects

9/05 reduced Gleevec (by Dr. Druker) to 300 mg because of

Transfusion Dependency!

Today: On Gleevec 300 mg and doing super!

[Guest guest]

At 09:18 PM 4/10/06 +0000, you wrote:

>First of all, today is my 3rd anniversary of being on Gleevec. I

>just got my BMB/BMA results back from Oregon (see Dr. Druker---

>perhaps now you may know why I am laughing)!! I am still

>undetectable and on 300 mg of Gleevec.

Too funny .....and congrats on your great results on 300mg IM.

Dr. Druker has it all!!! he is tall, strong (he told me if he wasn't a

doctor, he would have liked to be a tennis pro).......and he has the

technique down pat.

I met when she was first diagnosed and consulting at MDACC 3 years

ago. I was there for a consult about the new drug (now BMS).....which took

a while to get here. felt like she was getting some conflicting info

at MDACC......so I said if you want to go to who really knows about

Gleevec, see Dr. Druker. Many people do fly across the country, from the

East Coast and down South for consults at OHSU......and from Canada (that's

how I met Zavie).

, I hope you and Bob celebrate your 3 year anniversary of Gleevec

doing something special.

You are a success story.

love, Maui Nanc

[Guest guest]

Dear , Congratulations on your excellent results. You are blessed

having Dr. Druker. Keep up the great work, Love, Lynne A>

[Guest guest]

To add to Colin's comments - I've also had three, and in all cases felt nothing but the pressure and the pushing of the needle into the bone - nothing - all with only local - it all depends on who does it - See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.