Hello, Mary. I wrote a long message and lost it. Here Itry again. My 39 year old husband was diagnosed april 04 and stayed in Gleevec 400 for 18 months. Then he became resistent and CML reappeared. He's now on 600. Until when will it work? If it fails, 800 and then perhaps trying another drug.(AMN107 still not in market). Only 15% people become resistent to Gleevec. You can find Jeff's story at the message board CML Gleevec. The story of this medicine is too short, perhaps 4 years. Not enough to know what will happen, only we it just can keep illness under control but not cure. Side effects are varied and similar (swallen ankles, puffy eyes, bone pain, stomach aches and disorders, tiredness, ...)
Fortunately for us, my husband has a perfect match sibling (one of his brothers). From the beggining I clearly saw that BMT was the best and as soon as possible, but the doctor was not so keen and scared my poor husband with the hardness of the process. One of docs' main duty is to tell people they will most probably have the worst complications, dangers, pain and even death. They need no complaints afterwards.
It's very easy to take the pills and give them to my husband, no hospital, all the family thiks he's OK, and he looks so, but I hate this uncertainty. Thank God some light came into his mind and although Gleevec 600 is working OK, he deciced at last to undergo BMT in short.
About you, I can't beleive your sister hasn't done the test yet to see if she's a donor. They will only take a blood sample from her. Don't wait, you're 45. If she's a perfect match donor I would do the BMT right now. If not I'd stay on Gleevec and pray that you are on the 85% for whose Gleevec does not work after a few years.
Of course this is my own opinion. You now better, discuss with your docs and family, decide soon, and don't look back. I'llkeep you in my prayers. Alicia.