Remission

My dad has chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This is basically a leukemia where his white blood cells keep increasing. He was diagnosed in 2000 and was told he had 2-4 years to live. This was typical given the treatments available at the time. The only definitive cure is a bone marrow transplant, but at his age this was not an option even if he did have a perfect match (he doesn't). To make a long story short, he has been trying some experimental treatments. The first one was Gleevic. It is a targeted cancer therapy. It didn't do much for him and he was on it for a couple of years. The only other option was to try another experimental medicine. I researched it on the net and saw that it was having a lot of success putting people in remission. He went down to Houston in 2004 to participate.

He never got a chance to try the drug because his platelets went dangerously low and he developed a brain hemorrage. He had brain surgery and was in the hospital for a month. He almost died about 3 or 4 different times.

He fully recovered and in November, he found out that the same clinical trial was going to take place close to home. The doctor actually contacted him and asked him if he wanted to participate. He didn't hesitate (he's courageous, my dad). Anyway, he started in late November and had a bone marrow test last month which shows that he is in a full remission. It's really a miracle. The drug's name is BMS-354825 and is created by Bristol Myers Squibb. We are so thrilled.