Managing CML: Dealing With Dr... Video Transcript

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HAGOP KANTARJIAN, MD: We got him back to what is referred to as a partial cytogenetic response, meaning that the Philadelphia-positive cells are now under 35 percent. In fact, in his case, they are 15 percent. And that's important, because in the past, partial or complete cytogenetic response has been associated with a better survival.

WILLARD LANGLEY: My side effects increased a little bit, more swelling of the ankle, and then the eye, swelling of the eye. And that's the only side effects that I have.

HAGOP KANTARJIAN, MD: When we doubled the dose to 800, he did not experience much more of the side effects.

WILLARD LANGLEY: Dr. Kantarjian told me one day, he said, "CML is very hard to get rid of. So we may have it for a while." But, you know, as long as I have it and I feel like I do now, so you just say, "Hey, I've got CML."

HAGOP KANTARJIAN, MD: The life of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia has changed dramatically since Gleevec became available, because the drug is taken by mouth. It has very few side effects, and it controls the disease very effectively. So even if we cannot sometimes talk about the word "cure" because we cannot demonstrate elimination of the disease in all the patients, we can talk sometimes about what's called a functional cure, meaning that even though the disease is there, it's not going to affect either the quality of life or the survival of the patients.

WILLARD LANGLEY: A pretty good miracle. I have a friend that, he says, "You're the first guy I've ever known that they've developed a drug that would help you while you're still living." That makes me feel good.

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