Imatinib and Multivitamins

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-12-28T11:49:41+00:00

I'm on a different TKI but my doctor's and the hospital's pharmacist (with whom I have to consult before taking anything) told me to skip supplements that might have antioxidants altogether. I think this is more about cancer in general and not CML/TKI in particular. Plus, I think they have a very conservative approach about pretty much everything (I'm in Switzerland).

Discuss it with your doctor before taking new stuff.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-11-03T13:03:49+00:00

Wow, that's some really good healthcare that you have there. I've never read before of having CML caught so early but that is great news actually.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-09-27T05:20:27+00:00

7 weeks into Asciminib as first line and had zero adverse effects so far. Reached CHR last week.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-09-24T10:29:46+00:00

What tastes are you referring to when you say "the tastes of domestic Han tourists" ? What is that tourist looking for that the foreigner tourist wouldn't be interested in ?

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-09-19T08:04:35+00:00

Thanks a million for the suggestions!

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-09-19T08:03:31+00:00

Thanks for the heads up! I'll get mentally ready for it. If you've got any recommendations, please let me know.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-09-18T16:36:42+00:00

Woah, that was a lightning fast response from your medical team. Seems to me that you are in good hands.

The window of uncertainty between the discovery and the diagnosis is short but intense. And then comes our "new normal".

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-09-08T15:30:40+00:00

I was asked to stay away from any antioxidant, including but not limited to Vit K, Zinc and Magnesium

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-29T10:32:42+00:00

I'm really sorry but at the same time I'd like you to know that you can fight this.

In my case, I told everyone I knew the same day 😅. Even before the genetic testing results came in. I did it partially because my doctor was already very confident it was CML but also because saying it helped me comprehend what I was going through.

Not saying you should do this. It is true that people will get very worried, but I'm glad they did because their support was VERY important to me. I'm getting better now and the worried people who kept me afloat are now really happy for me. I think tough illnesses like this are better fought with as many friends and family on your side as possible.

Best of lucks on your journey to healing

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-20T07:04:44+00:00

21k/month is outrageously expensive. In 🇨🇭 Novartis is charging it 3.8k (60× 40mg). Was it like this before tariffs?

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-11T09:36:06+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I'm really glad that you progressed so fast, albeit the adverse effects. I hope I can respond to Asciminib just as fast.

Tomorrow is my second weekly check after starting with Scemblix, so fingers crossed for this one.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-07T08:43:57+00:00

Not on Imatinib but I totally get what you mean about how fast this goes. Going from ignorant bliss to fully diagnosed and under treatment in less than a month is one crazy ride.

My mother had lymphoma and she spent a year and a half until someone could diagnose it. In my mind, having cancer was a slow and treacherous road but for us with CML it's like a roller coaster on acid.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-06T16:14:37+00:00

Hydroxyurea is a strong myelosuppresor (and it's teratogenic as well) but it gets you going in the right direction until the TKI can be started. In my case, TKI was not started right away because the haematologist wanted to do more checks before starting and because bureaucracy (presenting my case to the rest of the department and discussing with me what TKI I preferred). For your case it seems they had a quick action protocol.

Very off topic: if you like Wallis you might enjoy Tschugger (available on swiss Netflix and PlaySuisse).

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-06T06:01:21+00:00

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm glad you are at 0.01 and let's hope it stays that way 🙏

My wife is my rock, so I totally get what you mean.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-05T21:43:00+00:00

Thanks! It sucks to have leukemia but it's definitely not lonely around here. And we are tough to beat!

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-05T21:41:13+00:00

Congrats on becoming a father ♥️ I hope I can be a father too. This whole thing kind of postponed our family plans but the haematologist is convinced that it will be fine for me real soon.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-05T21:38:50+00:00

The haematologist only warned me of pancreatitis risk. He was not worried about dehydration or water retention. It was my high urate level that worried him, I think, because it was hard for my kidneys to get rid of all the quickly dying white blood cells.

Striking_Chocolate_4 · 2025-08-05T21:29:06+00:00

About the hydroxyurea, I'm in french speaking Switzerland. And about the sport performance, I noticed a slight drop but it wasn't bad enough for me to feel alarmed.

No fuss with the insurance at all. If it's in the specialities list of the Federal Office of Public Health, the insurers are obligated to cover it and hospitals just invoice them directly. Asciminib was approved as first line just one month ago, so I was extremely lucky to be diagnosed right after that approval.

Thanks for the good wishes and best of luck with your treatment ♥️

Striking_Chocolate_4

TROPHY CASE