In the last year, researchers and trial participants of treatment for Leukemia have discovered something that might help in battling GVHD over time. (Graft vs Host Disease). In the event of a person having a bone marrow transplant, like myself, their new stem cells can often times wage war against what's left of your old immune system, causing all sorts of problems. To this day, it's why I remain on Prednisone (steroid) to suppress those problems. (i.e., skin tightness, energy levels, flexibility, eye problems, etc).
During treatment for Leukemia, a person having the Philadelphia chromosome would have a drug called Gleevec added to their regimen. I did not have the chromosome, so I was never prescribed the drug. But in their research, trials have found that in addition to helping treat Leukemia, the drug also helps combat GVHD. As a result, my doctors want me try it and see how things go. In the last few weeks, also under the direction of my doctors, I have stopped taking Prograf. (Another immune suppressing drug.)
The downside is that the drug is incredibly expensive. (Around $4000USD for a 3 month supply). We're battling it out with our insurance now to get it approved, but so far it hasn't been a fruitful effort. They don't want to cover it because I don't have the chromosome and it's not considered a standard treatment for GVHD.
More to come as we find out more.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Gleevec
In the last year, researchers and trial participants of treatment for Leukemia have discovered something that might help in battling GVHD over time. (Graft vs Host Disease). In the event of a person having a bone marrow transplant, like myself, their new stem cells can often times wage war against what's left of your old immune system, causing all sorts of problems. To this day, it's why I remain on Prednisone (steroid) to suppress those problems. (i.e., skin tightness, energy levels, flexibility, eye problems, etc).
During treatment for Leukemia, a person having the Philadelphia chromosome would have a drug called Gleevec added to their regimen. I did not have the chromosome, so I was never prescribed the drug. But in their research, trials have found that in addition to helping treat Leukemia, the drug also helps combat GVHD. As a result, my doctors want me try it and see how things go. In the last few weeks, also under the direction of my doctors, I have stopped taking Prograf. (Another immune suppressing drug.)
The downside is that the drug is incredibly expensive. (Around $4000USD for a 3 month supply). We're battling it out with our insurance now to get it approved, but so far it hasn't been a fruitful effort. They don't want to cover it because I don't have the chromosome and it's not considered a standard treatment for GVHD.
More to come as we find out more.
During treatment for Leukemia, a person having the Philadelphia chromosome would have a drug called Gleevec added to their regimen. I did not have the chromosome, so I was never prescribed the drug. But in their research, trials have found that in addition to helping treat Leukemia, the drug also helps combat GVHD. As a result, my doctors want me try it and see how things go. In the last few weeks, also under the direction of my doctors, I have stopped taking Prograf. (Another immune suppressing drug.)
The downside is that the drug is incredibly expensive. (Around $4000USD for a 3 month supply). We're battling it out with our insurance now to get it approved, but so far it hasn't been a fruitful effort. They don't want to cover it because I don't have the chromosome and it's not considered a standard treatment for GVHD.
More to come as we find out more.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Put your doctors' best dogs on this one!
ReplyDelete