Patient Stories

Hi, I'm Sam. I'm from Texas and been married for 23 years and have three children, two girls and a boy. Do sales myself, so I'm fairly busy all the time, out and about doing a lot of different things. So along with my family, my job keeps me busy, but do have the opportunity to have a lot of great family time with them as well.

Sprycel dasatinib is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive, pH positive, chronic myeloid leukemia, CML, in chronic phase, CP. It is not known if Sprycel is safe and effective in children under one year of age. Sprycel may cause serious side effects including low blood cell counts, bleeding problems, fluid retention, heart and blood vessel cardiovascular problems, pulmonary arterial hypertension, severe skin reactions, and tumor lysis syndrome. Side effects of Sprycel that are considered most common in adults receiving Sprycel alone include diarrhea, headache, skin rash, shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, and muscle pain. This is not a complete list of all side effects with Sprycel. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects while taking Sprycel. Please see important safety information throughout this video and the patient information in the full prescribing information by clicking the link below.

My life was fairly your typical life. I was married, three kids, had the job, not a lot of thoughts or cares about my personal health in a lot of ways. And came to the point where I was getting annual physicals and had a company that would reimburse you and give you money back for your annual physical, so that was a big incentive for me and had pushed it off to the end of the year. And so I went back in and got my blood work again and everything went good. I felt good, didn't think much of it. And call came two days later and it was the doctor on the phone saying, "Hey, we need you to come back and look at some things and just some things on your blood work didn't look quite right."

Had me come down and talk to him and explain to me I had an elevated white blood cell count. Kind of threw me off a little bit, never came out and said exactly what I had, but really kind of took the wind out of you. Your mind's going in a hundred different directions thinking about different things. So it was definitely a kind of a blow back. My wife was definitely a big support of mine and prayer. You've always heard the word leukemia or you heard different things, so I didn't know a lot about it. And my wife being in medicine we kind of discussed it and always kept hope and just said things are going to work out and had a great, I still do have a great oncologist that really helped me through a lot of the things that I was going through.

I remember going in and meeting with him, he did blood work as well, we're able to just discuss it. His demeanor and the way he talked and explaining to me there are a lot of great medicines out there and there's things that you can go on and still live a very productive and happy life. And so that put me at ease a lot. It really did. It kind of took a load off because you get thrown something at you that you really never had heard about before and to have him explain those things to you and coming from a professional, it really made me feel better.

When my oncologist discussed with me he mentioned there was a few different options out there and he discussed all of them and really kept coming back to Sprycel. Wanted to give me the opportunity to try it. He probably more than anything when he explained it to me and that it was a medicine, it was a pill that I was going to take. And they discussed the dosage with me on the Sprycel, they discussed when to take it, when you pick the time. It's taking one pill a day, any time during the day. And you don't have to worry about if you're eating or if you're not eating, which kind of made it very, very nice for me in a lot of ways. There wasn't a lot of things I had to think about and I could focus on what I was doing and my family and my work and different things.

Important fact about Sprycel dasatinib. This is a summary of important information that patients need to know about Sprycel. Your healthcare team can work with you to help answer any questions you may have about Sprycel. Look out for the following icons as you read, talk to your healthcare provider, call a healthcare provider right away, helpful information to remember.

What is Sprycel? Sprycel dasatinib is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive, pH positive, chronic myeloid leukemia, CML, in chronic phase, CP. Adults with pH positive CML who no longer benefit from, or did not tolerate, other treatment including imatinib. Adults with pH positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, pH positive ALL, who no longer benefit from, or did not tolerate, other treatment. Children one year of age and older with pH positive CML in chronic phase. Children one year of age and older with newly diagnosed pH positive ALL in combination with chemotherapy. It is not known if Sprycel is safe and effective in children under one year of age.

Tablets are white to off white with BMS appearing on one side. These letters may be followed by a number indicating the strength of the tablet in milligrams. In addition, an identification number will be marked on the other side. Size and shape may vary by dose. Tablets are taken by mouth. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before starting Sprycel? Talk to your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have any of these medical conditions: problems with your immune system, heart problems, including a condition called congenital long QT syndrome, low potassium or low magnesium levels in your blood, lactose, milk sugar, intolerance.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Sprycel dasatinib can harm your unborn baby. Females who can become pregnant, you should not become pregnant during treatment with Sprycel. You should use effective birth control contraception during treatment and for 30 days after your last dose of Sprycel. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Sprycel. Males with female partners who can become pregnant, you should use effective birth control contraception during treatment and for 30 days after your last dose of Sprycel. Your female partner should call her healthcare provider if she becomes pregnant or thinks she is pregnant during your treatment with Sprycel. Breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Sprycel passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment and for two weeks after your last dose of Sprycel. Females who are pregnant should not handle crushed or broken Sprycel tablets.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over the counter medicines, vitamins, antacids, herbal supplements. If you take an antacid medicine, take it two hours before or two hours after your dose of Sprycel. Sprycel may interact with other medicines you are taking. This can change the relative effectiveness of Sprycel or cause unwanted side effects. During treatment with Sprycel make sure you also talk to your healthcare provider before you begin to take anything new. Your healthcare provider can help identify any potential interactions and help find alternatives.

How should Sprycel be taken? Take Sprycel exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Sprycel or temporarily stop treatment with Sprycel. Do not change your dose or stop taking Sprycel without first talking to your healthcare provider. Do take Sprycel one time a day. Do take Sprycel with or without food, either in the morning or in the evening, at the same time each day. Setting an alarm clock or a calendar notification is a great way to remember to take medication. Do swallow Sprycel tablets whole with water. If your child cannot swallow tablets whole, talk to your healthcare provider. Do not cut, crush, or chew the tablets. Do not drink grapefruit juice during treatment with Sprycel. Do not take St. John's wort during treatment with Sprycel.

What if I miss a dose of Sprycel dasatinib? If you miss a dose of Sprycel, take your next scheduled dose at your regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time. Call your healthcare provider or your pharmacist if you are not sure what to do.

What if I take too much Sprycel? Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What are the possible side effects of Sprycel? Serious side effects. Sprycel may cause serious side effects, including those listed below. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of the side effects below or any other concerns about these side effects. Low blood cell counts. Low blood cell counts are common with Sprycel and can be severe, including low red blood cell counts, anemia, low white blood cell counts, neutropenia, and low platelet counts, thrombocytopenia. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood cell counts regularly during your treatment with Sprycel. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms during treatment with Sprycel: fever, any signs of an infection.

Bleeding problems. Bleeding problems are common with Sprycel. Sometimes these bleeding problems can be serious and lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have unusual bleeding or bruising of your skin, bright red or dark tar-like stools, decreased alertness, headache, or change in speech.

Your body may hold too much fluid, fluid retention. Fluid retention is common with Sprycel and can sometimes be severe. In severe cases, fluid may build up in the lining of your lungs, the sac around your heart, or your stomach cavity. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms during treatment with Sprycel: swelling all over your body, weight gain, shortness of breath, especially if this happens with low levels of physical activity or at rest, dry cough, chest pain when taking a deep breath.

Heart and blood vessel cardiovascular problems. Sprycel may cause heart problems, including an abnormal heart rate, a heart attack, or small strokes that last only a few minutes or a few hours, called transient ischemic attacks, TIAs. TIAs are often a warning sign that you are at risk for a more serious stroke. Your healthcare provider will monitor the potassium and magnesium levels in your blood and your heart function. Get medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms during treatment with Sprycel: chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling like your heart is beating too fast or you feel abnormal heartbeats, vision changes that may last for a short time, slurred speech.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension, PAH. Sprycel may cause high blood pressure in the vessels of your lungs. PAH may happen at any time during your treatment with Sprycel. Your healthcare provider should check your heart and lungs before and during your treatment with Sprycel. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: shortness of breath, tiredness, swelling all over your body, fluid retention. Severe skin reactions. Sprycel dasatinib may cause skin reactions that can sometimes be severe. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms: skin reaction with fever, sore mouth or throat, blistering or peeling of your skin or in the mouth.

Tumor lysis syndrome, TLS. TLS is caused by a fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause you to have kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment, as well as an abnormal heartbeat. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check you for TLS. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment with Sprycel: nausea, vomiting, weakness, swelling, shortness of breath, muscle cramps, seizures.

Slowing of growth and development in children. Effects on bone growth and development in children have happened with Sprycel and can sometimes be severe. Your healthcare provider will monitor your child's bone growth and development during treatment with Sprycel. Get medical help right away if your child develops bone pain.

Most common side effects. The most common side effects of Sprycel in adults and children receiving Sprycel alone include diarrhea, headache, skin rash, shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, muscle pain. The most common side effects of Sprycel in children receiving Sprycel with chemotherapy include swelling, pain, and redness of the lining of your mouth, throat, stomach, and bowel, mucositis, low white blood cell counts with fever, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, stomach area abdominal pain, cough, headache, rash, tiredness, constipation, abnormal heart rate, high blood pressure, hypertension, swelling, infections, low blood pressure, decreased appetite, allergic reactions, shortness of breath, nosebleed, numbness or tingling of your hands and feet, feeling confused or disoriented. Sprycel may cause fertility problems in males and females. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you. These are not all of the possible side effects of Sprycel. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.

How do I store Sprycel dasatinib? Sprycel tablets should be stored at room temperature between 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, 20 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the right way to throw away outdated or unused Sprycel. Wear latex or nitrile gloves when handling tablets that have accidentally been crushed or broken. Females who are pregnant should not handle crushed or broken Sprycel tablets. Keep Sprycel and all medicines out of the reach of children.

This document has summarized the most important safety information for Sprycel. For more in-depth safety information, please read the patient information in the full prescribing information by clicking the link below.

The testimonial in this video is from an actual patient who has been compensated by Bristol Myers Squibb. Sprycel, dasatinib is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive, pH-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, CML in chronic phase, CP. It is not known if Sprycel is safe and effective in children under one year of age. Sprycel may cause serious side effects, including low blood cell counts, bleeding problems, fluid retention, heart and blood vessel cardiovascular problems, pulmonary arterial hypertension, severe skin reactions, and tumor lysis syndrome. Side effects of Sprycel that are considered most common in adults receiving Sprycel alone include diarrhea, headache, skin, rash, shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, and muscle pain. This is not a complete list of all side effects with Sprycel. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects while taking Sprycel, please see important safety information throughout this video and the patient information in the full prescribing information by clicking the link below.

Some of the things that I've tried to focus on when I was diagnosed is try to focus on what you can do. And the one thing I always was taught at an early age and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't for all of us is, you try not to worry. You put your mind on other things and let the professionals and the doctors take care of the things that they're good at. The doctors, the nurses, even to the person that takes my blood and draws my blood every time I go in and knowing them by name and them asking you how you're doing and listening to the doctors and listening to the nurses and being able to pick up the phone, and if you have a question about something and having their number. That's my number one recommendation is to listen to them and believe and trust in what they're telling you to do.

I look back to before I was diagnosed and I don't know if I would say I would take it for granted, but sometimes some of the things that you do, you do take for granted at times as a person, because you become so routine. And then when you get something thrown at you, as CML, it definitely makes you look at things a little bit differently and appreciate your family a lot more and your marriage and your job and your faith. Live your life and live it one day at a time and don't look too far in your variants. Obviously, when you get hit with something as a diagnosis, it's something that can take your breath away, but you've got to take things one day at a time, enjoy everything that you do, and don't get stressed out about the little things.

Important facts about Sprycel, dasatinib. This is a summary of important information that patients need to know about Sprycel. Your healthcare team can work with you to help answer any questions you may have about Sprycel. Look out for the following icons as you read, talk to your healthcare provider, call a healthcare provider right away, helpful information to remember. What is Sprycel? Sprycel, dasatinib is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive, pH-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, CML in chronic phase, CP. Adults with pH-positive CML who no longer benefit from, or did not tolerate other treatment, including imatinib. Adults with pH-positive, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, pH-positive ALL, who no longer benefit from or did not tolerate other treatment. Children one year of age and older with pH-positive CML in chronic phase. Children one year of age and older with newly diagnosed pH-positive ALL in combination with chemotherapy.

It is not known if Sprycel is safe and effective in children under one year of age. Tablets are white to off-white with BMS appearing on one side. These letters may be followed by a number indicating the strength of the tablet in milligrams. In addition, an identification number will be marked on the other side. Size and shape may vary by dose. Tablets are taken by mouth. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before starting Sprycel? talk to your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have any of these medical conditions: problems with your immune system, heart problems, including a condition called congenital long QT syndrome, low potassium, or low magnesium levels in your blood, lactose, milk sugar intolerance. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Sprycel dasatinib, can harm your unborn baby.

Females who can become pregnant, you should not become pregnant during treatment with Sprycel. You should use effective birth control, contraception during treatment, and for 30 days after your last dose of Sprycel. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Sprycel. Males with female partners who can become pregnant, you should use effective birth control, contraception during treatment and for 30 days after your last dose of Sprycel. Your female should call her health care provider if she becomes pregnant or thinks she is pregnant during your treatment with Sprycel. Breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, it is not known if Sprycel passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment and for two weeks after your last dose of Sprycel. Females who are pregnant should not handle crushed or broken Sprycel tablets. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, antacids, herbal supplements.

If you take an antacid medicine, take it two hours before or two hours after your dose of Sprycel. Sprycel may interact with other medicines you are taking. This can change the relative effectiveness of Sprycel or cause unwanted side effects. During treatment with Sprycel, make sure you also talk to your healthcare provider before you begin to take anything new. Your healthcare provider can help identify any potential interactions and help find alternatives. How should Sprycel be taken? Take Sprycel exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Sprycel or temporarily stop treatment with Sprycel. Do not change your dose or stop taking Sprycel without first talking to your healthcare provider. Do take Sprycel one time a day. Do take Sprycel with or without food, either in the morning or in the evening, at the same time each day. Setting an alarm clock or a calendar notification is a great way to remember to take medication. Do swallow Sprycel tablets whole with water.

If your child cannot swallow tablets whole, talk to your healthcare provider. Do not cut, crush, or chew the tablets. Do not drink grapefruit juice during treatment with Sprycel. Do not take St John's Wart during treatment with Sprycel. What if I miss a dose of Sprycel, dasatinib? If you miss a dose of Sprycel, take your next scheduled dose at your regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time. Call your healthcare provider or your pharmacist if you are not sure what to do. What if I take too much Sprycel? Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. What are the possible side effects of Sprycel? Serious side effects, Sprycel may cause serious side effects, including those listed below. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of the side effects below or any other concerns about these side effects. Low blood cell counts, low blood cell counts are common with Sprycel and can be severe, including low red blood cell counts, anemia, low white blood cell counts, neutropenia and low platelet counts, thrombocytopenia.

Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood cell counts regularly during your treatment with Sprycel. Call your healthcare provider right away. If you have any of these symptoms during with Sprycel: fever, any signs of an infection. Bleeding problems, bleeding problems are common with Sprycel. Sometimes these bleeding problems can be serious and lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have unusual bleeding or bruising of your skin, bright red or dark tar like stools, decreased alertness, headache, or change in speech. Your body may hold too much fluid, fluid retention. Fluid retention is common with Sprycel and can sometimes be severe. In severe cases, fluid may build up in the lining of your lungs, the sack around your heart, or your stomach cavity. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms during treatment with Sprycel: swelling all over your body, weight gain, shortness of breath, especially if this happens with low levels of physical activity or at rest, dry cough, chest pain when taking a deep breath.

Heart and blood vessel cardiovascular problems. Sprycel may cause heart problems, including an abnormal heart rate, a heart attack, or small strokes that last only a few minutes or a few hours called transient ischemic attacks, TIAs. TIAs are often a warning sign that you are at risk for a more serious stroke. Your healthcare provider will monitor the potassium and magnesium levels in your blood and your heart function. Get medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms during treatment with Sprycel: chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling like your heart is beating too fast, or you feel abnormal heartbeats, vision changes that may last for a short time, slurred speech, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pAH. Sprycel may cause high blood pressure in the vessels of your lungs, pAH may happen at any time during your treatment with Sprycel. Your healthcare provider should check your heart and lungs before and during your treatment with Sprycel. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: shortness of breath, tiredness, swelling all over your body, fluid retention, severe skin reactions. Sprycel, dasatinib may cause skin reactions that can sometimes be severe. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms: skin reaction with fever, sore mouth or throat, blistering or peeling of your skin or in the mouth, tumor lysis syndrome, TLS. TLS is caused by a fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause you to have kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment, as well as an abnormal heartbeat. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check you for TLS. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment with Sprycel: nausea, vomiting, weakness, swelling, shortness of breath, muscle cramps, seizures, slowing of growth and development in children. Effects on bone growth and development in children have happened with Sprycel and can sometimes be severe.

Your healthcare provider will monitor your child's bone growth and development during treatment with Sprycel. Get medical help right away if your child develops bone pain. Most common side effects. The most common side effects of Sprycel in adults and children receiving Sprycel alone include diarrhea, headache, skin rash, shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, muscle pain. The most common side effects of Sprycel in children receiving Sprycel with chemotherapy include swelling, pain, and redness of the lining of your mouth, throat, stomach, and bowel, mucositis, low white blood cell counts with fever, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, stomach area abdominal pain, cough, headache, rash, tiredness, constipation, abnormal heart rate, high blood pressure, hypertension, swelling, infections, low blood pressure, decreased appetite, allergic reactions, shortness of breath, nosebleed, numbness, or tingling of your hands and feet, feeling confused or disoriented. Sprycel may cause fertility problems in males and females.

Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you. These are not all of the possible side effects of Sprycel. Tell your healthcare provider. If you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088. How do I store Sprycel, dasatinib? Sprycel tablets should be stored at room temperature between 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, 20 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the right way to throw away outdated or unused Sprycel. Wear latex or nitrile gloves. When handling tablets that have accidentally been crushed or broken. Females who are pregnant should not handle crushed or broken Sprycel tablets. Keep Sprycel and all medicines out of the reach of children. This document has summarized the most important safety information for Sprycel. For more in-depth safety information, please read the patient information in the full prescribing information by clicking the link below.