Gleevec (Imatinib) from Maple Leaf Medications.

About Gleevec

Gleevec is a chemotherapy medication that is used to stop the growth of cancer cells. It has been approved by the FDA to control certain types of cancers such as:

•     Ph+ ALL that is diagnosed early in children.
•     Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
•     Aggressive systemic mastocytosis
•     Bone marrow cancers in adults with PDGFR (platelet-derived growth factor receptor) gene rearrangements.

What’s It like Living with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow specifically the tissue that is present in the parts of the hone where new blood cells are made.

The disease is acute because it progresses aggressively by creating immature rather than mature blood cells. This happens when bone marrow cells develop an error in their DNA which tells them to continue growing and dividing when a healthy cell should stop dividing and die. This results in the creation of abnormal blood cells that turn into leukemic white cells called lymphoblasts.

Risk Factors

While major causes of the disease are relatively unknown, there are certain risk factors that can increase your chances of getting this cancer. These may or may not include:

•     Being white and male.
•     Exposure to high radiation levels that treat other cancers.
•     Infection with human T-cell leukemia virus-1 or the Epsteain-Barr virus which is common in Africa.
•     Excessive exposure to benzene which is used in oil refineries and is also present in cigarettes, detergents and pain strippers.
•     Having a family history of Down’s syndrome.

Common Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of ALL may include the following:

•     High fever
•     Bleeding from the gums
•     Pain in bones.
•     Pale skin
•     Shortness of breath
•     Regular infections
•     Fatigue and weakness
•     Lumps in the neck, groin, underarms and the abdomen
•     Severe nosebleeds

What to Know Before You Take Gleevec

Before you are prescribed Gleevec, tell your doctor if you have ever had the following:

•     Diabetes
•     Liver disease
•     Kidney disease
•     Stomach ulcers or stomach bleeding
•     Underactive thyroid
•     Chemotherapy

Plus don’t eat grapefruit if you are on Gleevec as the fruit may interfere with the drug in your system. Plus, tell your doctor about all of the medication you are currently on. Some can affect your blood levels which may react with the medication adversely. These include seizure medication, vitamin or mineral supplements, blood thinners, antibiotics, antifungal or antiviral medication.

FAQs about Gleevec