Imatinib and Pain: What Users Say

• Gis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2013

Imatinib for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor "I am taking Gleevec after surgery to remove a 15 cm tumor. It has been 7 months, and I am tumor-free. The main side effects of taking Gleevec have been abdominal bloating with pain, at times severe. I am able to handle the side effects for the most part, but when it becomes too much, I just reduce my dose for a few days until I feel better, normally for two days a week. I was on Gleevec for 5 months prior to surgery. It didn't reduce the tumor, but it stopped its growth and reduced the density considerably."

• che...
• November 22, 2012

Imatinib for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia "I have been on Gleevec now for 6 months, and in that time, I have had maybe 5 well days. The other days have been filled with vomiting, nausea, body aches and pains, migraines, lethargy, insane amounts of facial swelling, and my weight is just up and down like a yo-yo, varying from 82 kilos down to 75. I now realize that when I said this wasn't the right medication for me 5 months ago, I was right. Today, my hematologist told me that my Philadelphia gene is unacceptably high, so now I am going to try something else. I am delighted to hear that others are doing so well on it, but it certainly wasn't for me."

• Ton...
• October 29, 2013

For Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia "I have been on Gleevec since March 2007 when I was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. I was sick for about 4 months on this drug with nausea, leg swelling, pain so bad that I felt crippled by the end of every day, and headaches. I had these symptoms even while taking Zofran with the drug. My doctors at MSKCC told me to hang in there, saying I was going to wake up one day soon and feel better than ever. And then, after 4 months, they were right. I remember that I woke up one morning, stretched my arms and legs and yawned, and saw the sun shining through my bedroom window, and I turned to my husband and said, 'I feel great'! I have pretty much felt great since then, and my life has thrived. I am not just a survivor, I am a thriver!"

• Anonymous
• May 13, 2011

Imatinib for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia "It really does help if you stick to the plan. I didn't, and now I feel lots of different pains, and also my condition is progressing."