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chronic myeloid leukemia
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Any PCR level below 0.1% is excellent and an indicator of long term success. You are already completely healthy in regard to CML. At 0.03, you are very close to the limits of the test in terms of sensitivity to detecting CML (bcr-abl proteins).
You could achieve 0.00 next test or never. We don't know. It is probable your PCR level could drop below 0.01 within 12 - 24 months. There is no 'cure' for CML. But there can be a functional 'cure' whereby your body's immune system can keep CML at a low level (below detection) and you could stop taking imatinib. This is called treatment free remission. CML could always come back. So all of us - even those with no detectable CML - have to be vigilant and will always have to test.
The good news is you will never die of CML. That's behind you. Focus on your overall health with emphasis on maintaining a healthy immune system. And go enjoy life.
It is probably one of the most frightening thing to get diagnosed with any type of cancer but as my oncologist says if you have to get one CML is the one to get! But I understand how it affects you, I was a basket case for a year. People who don’t have this don’t understand what it’s like to be faced with your own mortality! We become separate in a way from those who don’t have a disease. But stay strong and stay on this wonderful boards.
To be honest, CML saved my life.
It was only after my diagnosis that I dove head first into the science of CML and overall health. I went and had a top to bottom physical exam (not related to CML) to get a baseline and found out that I was a heart attack/stroke waiting to happen. Before that I hadn't seen a doctor in 20 years. I learned as much as I could about how our body's biology works. I was so caught up in exercise and "calorie" control thinking that is all I needed. It was so wrong to think that weight management alone keeps you healthy.
It was back to basics for me and it is because of CML that I empowered myself to focus on overall biology. Doctors know so little when it comes to nutrition. I'm sure some do, I haven't found any yet. Once it was made clear to me that CML is not going to kill me prematurely - I realized it's cardiovascular that is most important to me (in my case). I focus on that more than CML.
Bottom line - think about the animals and how they eat and think about our ancestors (just a mere 100 years ago and earlier) and how they ate. Our bodies evolved to eat infrequently and to eat mostly fat and some protein, because that is all that was available. Sugar, carbs were rare and when they were available seasonally (i.e. maple syrup during spring) our bodies evolved to get all we can (sugar addiction anyone?) because that's how we stored fat for no food times. Also - our environment 100 or so years ago and earlier was dirty - lots of bacteria - no refrigeration or anti-bacterial soap. We ate veggies that were fermented and loaded with "stuff" that enabled high vitamin K2. No sunscreen. We were working outdoors with plenty of sun (high vitamin D).
Is it any wonder why we have a diabetes epidemic in the western world along with brittle bones, atherosclerosis and cancer.
Oh ... and south Asian people ate and continue to eat for thousands of years - turmeric (Curcumin). And on a percentage basis have lower rates of cancer unrelated to smoking than the West. Roots, in general, such as onions, beets and related are loaded with phytochemicals similar to turmeric that heal our bodies. Curcumin is from the tumeric root.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5882184/
It's just common sense. I do not rely on primary doctors advice anymore. They simply are not experts. I do follow Ph.D researchers (non-MD's). And it is through them that I have learned much (look up Dr. Valter Longo at USC on fasting).
Don't neglect your overall health. It's ironic that we "CML'ers" are likely more healthy than our non-CML firends and neighbors. Becasue getting CML was a shock to our brains. Imagine that.