Shortly before my 50th birthday I was diagnosed with CML, or Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. I was pretty sure I was the butt of some cosmic joke; who gets cancer and turns 50 at the same time? Well, thanks to new medicines that target specific chromosomes and the prayers of my family, my work family and all of my friends, just a few months later I was in what is referred to as molecular remission, which means there is undetectable minimal residual disease. The doctors wouldn’t call it a cure, as patients removed from medication most always had a recurrence and had to return to the medication regimen. But that was early days.

I’m hoping the minimal side effects I experience will go away and not be replaced by something I can attribute to aging. Ha!

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology did a long-term follow-up and determined that some select patients who had been on a prolonged course of CML medications were able to maintain molecular remission after stopping the medication. I have been on the initial drug, Gleevec, and a second drug, Sprycel, for a combined total of 9 ½ years. And the fact that my molecular remission occurred so quickly after I was diagnosed (only about 4-5 months, which the doctors had never seen; I’m pretty sure was because of all the prayers everyone sent) made me an even better candidate to stop the meds. So after a visit with my oncologist it is official – as of today I’m no longer on my meds. What a way to turn 60!

So what does this mean? Initially I will be required to have more frequent blood tests and visits to the doctor. I’ll be trading prescription costs for lab fees and co-pays, but so be it. I’m hoping the minimal side effects I experience will go away and not be replaced by something I can attribute to aging. Ha! But ultimately my hope is that I dodge the biggest long-term effect the Sprycel caused in patients on the drug for long periods – heart disease. I have no prominent risk factors, and the heart disease that troubled my parents didn’t show up until they were in their 80’s, and they both smoked cigarettes for a significant period of their lives. I think I’m probably OK.

But I’m sending another request out to those who worked the magic of prayer, summoned the Goddess, or beseeched the Universe for aid the first time, and anyone else who is so inclined in whatever way you worship; please keep me in your thoughts with the hope that I am one of the ones who achieved a cure.

And I’ll keep all of you in my prayers for always being a blessing my life.

Deborah