Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Support Group

Dear Lynda, As I told you in a previous reply "remission" is when the presence of leukemia cells is below 5%.With the traditional bone marrow biopsy the best they can tell you is that the leukemia is below 1%.
Remission is always a good thing, but it may not be a permanent thing.Hence you are advised to either continue with consolidation chemo or have a transplant.It does not means that the original diagnosis was wrong.Reread my original reply and ask more questions of the oncologist.A mini transplant is a milder version of a regular transplant normally given to older patients.
The slow recovery of the bone marrow after chemo is a concern that may be suggesting the need for a transplant.You have to get a second opinion.Contact Dr Estey at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.You can e-mail him at eestey@seattlecca.org .Good luck Diamondman.

A moment before replying to you, I reread your original reply. First I'm wishing you well on your consolidation therapy. Yes I think I understand the usual procedure is consolidation therapy. What type individualized to the patient. The problem with Jerry is because of conflicting medical reports from two different hospitals the oncologists weren't certain if there ever was acute myeloid leukemia. One test said no cancer. The other told them definitely cancer. Its rather confusing to me. So to be on the safe side, since they may be a chance that was his diagnosis they treated him as one of the oncolgogist expressed it to me "Like a leukemia" Got me so far?
Not blaming the doctors for this decision. They never saw a case like Jerry before. They told his case was extremely rare, complicated, unusual. His case was IOW unprecedented. So I still can't tell if the chemo killed off the leukemia or he was non-leukemic in the first place. As far the next step I figure it depends on what his situation is. I know I can ask his drs. I do know Jerry told me the medical team treating him told him he could be discharged as soon as next week. I plan to say to him when that happens, "Vacation's Over.!!!" lol
Thanks for your caring response
Lynda aka mugwort
The medical industry pushes bone marrow transplants.This will be the only long term option for some patients.The better option if you are one of the lucky ones is to complete the FOUR consolidations and then have a FLOW CYTOMETRY test to measure Minimal Residual Disease (MRD).This will give the doctor a clearer insite as to if the AML is staying in remission or coming back.