Hi Silvia,

Well I know this because I've seen many patients return to chronic
phase after being in the accelerated phase or even blast phase.
This is the goal after all, to either return to a chronic phase or
if lucky, to reach a remission.

There is no shortage of evidence to show that it is possible to
change phases of CML. Here is just one website
http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/leukemia_cancer_treatment.aspx?
id=765
I'll copy and paste the relevent sentence:
"Twenty-three percent of patients experienced a return to the
chronic phase of CML."

Also keep in mind that through natural progression of the disease, a
patient's phase will change from chronic to accelerated to blast so
it's not just possible to change phases, it's expected to change
throughout the course of the disease. The goal is to hault the
disease so that it doesn't progress into the more advanced phases.
If we could stay in the phase we are in, why would we be bother with
treatment. Chronic phase CML isn't terminal. It's too bad we can't
stay in chronic for the rest of our lives but the reality is that
the phases change and our goal is to prevent the more advanced
phases from occuring.

Take care,
Tracey



--- In Gleevec@yahoogroups.com, Silvia Keidel <sk6898@...> wrote:
>
> Tracey:
> thank you for your reply, I am sorry to be wrong, but how do you
know this?
> I am very confused now, since my onc told me that one does not
switch phases, they are what they are. I hate to belive that he
lied to me. I have to go in for my checkup pretty soon and will ask
again.
>
> Silvia
>
>
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