I'm sorry you're worried, I know how you feel. The doctors will take care of this, I've heard it's common - sorry he hit a speed bump but he will be fine!
Xo

I've read about many on the lymphoma and leukemia support groups who have plural effusion especially CML warriors on TKIs. Didn't Dave use a TKI to bridge to his second SCT? as Lea said, it will be resolved. Praying for strength.

Blessings
Julie

Julie,
I feel so dumb. I don't even know what you mean by plural effusion, CML or TKI?? All I know is he was Flt 3 and on a trial. This stuff just overwhelms me and it is really why I don't post much because I have so little to offer --- some of you all seem to know so much more - and I am rarely in on the doc visits. Bro doesn't talk much. It is so hard to try to self educate ----- without using the internet and I tried not to do much there because it to is overwhelming. All I do well is pray--
Twilight

Alright. Dr. Google has helped a bit. SCT is a Bone Marrow transplant?
plural effusion is a fancy way of saying fluid on the lungs?
how is CML different from AML?
TKI ---- is that a term for the Flt 3 positive trial? one I know as 2215?

As I always say: I teach Shakespeare!!!!!!!!!!!! This stuff is a total mystery to me. Ask me to go your genealogy and I will be fine. Anything to do with science or biology or medicine; I might as well be trying to read Chinese.

Twilight - that is a beautiful name -- please do not fret about the terminology -- I am sure Julie will be back and spell it out a bit more -- she is such a great helper here. BMT is bone marrow transplant and SCT is stem cell transplant. Your brother had a BMT -- it sounds like two of them. Still, he might be susceptible to pneumonia, which is not as bad as it sounds -- they diagnosed me for it at one point during my ordeal and it cleared up with the antibiotics they gave me. I am sure they have it all under control and his breathing should get back to normal once they drain it. We will be praying for you -- daveB (not the Dave Julie was talking about)

Twilight was the name of my great grandfather's in England best race horse. When I got involved in horse rescue, we called our group Friends of Twilight to help buy race horses' long lives.

Thank you all for your helpful responses. Is a bone marrow transplant the same as stem cell transplant?

Dr. Dave, did they drain yours plus antibiotics? They did put him on a five day round of antibiotics.

Twilight,

I am sorry if I confused you. ASP 2215 is a TKI or
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the FLT3 mutation. TKIs are used extensively for CML
Chronic Myloid Leukemia with great success but one of the common side effects is fluid in the lungs or plural effusion. Your brother, Dave, may be encountering the same side effect. The difference between SCT stem cell transplant and BMT Bone Marrow Transplant is where the donor cells come from. SCT cells are harvested after a simulator is given such as nuelesta or neupagon that many of us took when our wbc and ANC were low. Then the cells are taken from a vein in the neck. BMT cells are harvested directly from the bone usually the hip/pelvis the old fashioned way. This method is used with Haplo (half match ) when a 10/10 match is not found but a child or parent is a half match. A BMT is used to decrease the GVH but the downside is engraftment take longer.

I am by no means an expert, I just truly find all of this very, very interesting. I hope this is helpful.

Dear Julie,

Thanks. I think I get most of this. Unlike you, I hate all this and just find it confusing. I am impressed with your knowledge and grateful for your insights and willingness to share.

They took a quart of fluid today. He is home. I guess they test this?? Do they attempt to find the cause or do they know it is the TKI? Will this be a continuing problem? Or are we hoping the antibiotic will help rid his system? His oxygen levels are fine.

Susan

Susan,

It is really good that Daves oxygen levels are good. That makes me think it is more likely the lining of the lungs rather than inside. Praying that the meds resolve it soon.

Blessings
Julie

They drained it and negative but it returned. They drew same amount today and it is now on other lung.
I am scared and feel helpless. I think he had one round of antibiotics after first round.
Julie, where did you read that others dealt with this?
God, someone should write a layman's guidebook to help people get through this.
Otherwise, for all i know, numbers are good.
SCREAM!

Hi Susan,

I'm so sorry your brother is having lung problems. I had fluid in my lungs after one of the chemos. They should test him for fungal pneumonia it is harder to get rid of. They had me on oxygen and antibiotics and it took 6 months until it started to resolve. Sending positive energy to your brother. Hugs:)

Julie

Dearest Susan,

I am so sorry this issue has not been resolved for Dave. Fluid on the lungs (plural effusion) is a very common side effect for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) who are taking Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs) like Sprycel. Per my previous post, I was just wondering if because ASP 2215 (also a TKI for AML) could be causing this.

The link below is to the Lymphoma Leukemia Society Support Groups.

http://community.lls.org/topic/10480-sprycel-side-effects/?hl=%2Bplural+%2Beffusion#entry120266

Thanks for these ideas. Dave did suggest today docs are wondering about the ASP drug. He is still on it but hopes to stay on it. Otherwise, things are ok. Hopefully they will resolve this.

Susan,

I know how critical ASP 2215 was to both your brother and cc's brother jack remission so I pray that this complication can be resolved without stopping the drug. I am sure the team is doing all the right things to resolve this. You are a great sister and Dave is blessed to have you. Praying for healing

Julie

Susan how's your brothers lung fluid progress??? Hope it's resolvin
I'm So glad the counts are good, as Cliff says..."speed bumps"