Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Support Group
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), also known as acute myeloid leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells. Patients with AML usually present with symptoms such as fatigue, bleeding, infection, prompting medical attention. An abnormal blood test reading will then result in further testing in a hospital with a hematologist to determine AML.
Let me first say that I am not a doctor, nor an I am giving any medical advice. I am a daughter who loves her father very much and we, as a team, are doing everything we can to help my dad get through this.
Another member here suggested I start this thread as we have been corresponding through email for months and he thought we should share all of our knowledge and experiences so that others may benefit from it if there is any benefit to be had.
First background- then I will tell you want alternative treatments he is trying....
Dad is 70 years old (he just had his 70th birthday :-)
He was diagnosed with AML M0 on April 7, 2011. We brought him to Dana Farber the very next day where we were told the risks, etc. and he began induction within 2 days. At that point he had 88% blasts.
He flew into remission after induction and we were thrilled. Although he had a number of complications during that time, the team was amazing there and he made it through and went home. Unfortunately he became extremely dehydrated from lack of drinking water and was back in the hospital within 5 days in acute kidney failure. They fixed that too, but again he had a number of complications and was almost unable to go through consolidation.
We whipped him into shape and he finally got consolidation. He again ended up with complications: confusion, high fevers, infection, etc., but he again made it through. On our last day in Boston(we were to go home that afternoon) he had blood work and saw the doc. His counts seemed funny. They did a BM biopsy just to check what was going on.
The next week our worst fears were realized. Dad has relapsed. We couldn't believe it. We were devastated. (all this- for 4 months- for nothing we thought). He was 5 weeks out of consolidation.
He was given 4 choices: induction again, palliative care (which is lose-dose chemo for 1 hr. for 5 days on and then 28 days off and repeat, a clinical trial, or nothing in which case we would call hospice and he would die.)
Dad did not want to go through induction again- it was hard on him. He didn't want a trial because that meant months away from home again. He choose the low-dose chemo at home in NY.
The choices were given to him on 7/27/11 and they said he could wait until after his birthday party 8/7 to start the chemo. He was given anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to live.
Here comes the alternative part ......... while we were sitting on the porch on 7/31/11 a neighbor stopped by to see dad. This neighbor has multiple myeloma. He was given 2 years to live. That was 5 years ago. When he was diagnosed, he did not want to do chemo. He went MD Anderson where he was enrolled in a clinical trial. The trial was for 1 year and was given 8000mg of curcumin a day. When the trial was over he was not cured, but his cancer did not progress. He was at 30% when he went to MD Anderson and that is where he is today. He never stopped taking the curcumin. He says he can tired easily because his counts have stayed low, but that in general he feels fine. That was all dad needed to hear. He wanted to try it.
Dad asked for a list of everything the neighbor was doing. He obliged.
He takes:
1.) 8000mg of curcumin a day (4000 in the morning and 4000 a night). Super Curcumin w/Bioperine Time Release 1000mg-60 Tabs
Here is the website:
http://www.agelesscures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=1
We bought another brand (1000 mg with bioperine) to get us by at first from a local health food store, but ordered this one since it is the same curcumin he used in his clinical trial at MD Anderson.
2.) Silver : specifically Sovereign Silver (immune system booster)
Here is the website:
http://www.natural-immunogenics.com/
We bought it in a local health food store though
3.) Ojibwa Tea Liquid 16 oz (473 ml) by NOW -
Here is a website: http://www.betterhealthinternational.com/productDetails.asp?prodID=N4855&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=comparsionshopping&CAWELAID=556908777&gclid=CNe7q6GwxaoCFQfBKgodBUU8zg
We also got another version from the health food store (Essiac tea concentrate), but we also ordered this version as it is the one our neighbor takes
In addition to what the neighbor has taken for the past 5 years for his multiple myeloma, I have done research and saw some promise for other therapies for AML.
I found that Japan has done a number of clinical trials for AML using high dose vitamin D3 and high doses vitamin K2. There are different kinds of K2 out there, but Japan uses K2 M-4 (Not the K2 M-7 that we see on every vitamin shelf in the USA) It was a tough time to find K2 M-4 for sale in the US, but I finally did.
Here is the website: http://www.nbihealth.com/p-10-osteo-k.aspx
Dad has asked that we throw everything but the kitchen sink at this (AML). His current chemo doctor told us that he can not condone him taking the supplements, because he has no idea if they will #1. Have any kind of interaction with the chemo and #2. if they will cause the chemo not to work (ie. the supplements and chemo could cancel eachother out).
Dad said he didn't care and that he wants to take it all at the same time. SO- dad has become his own guinea pig.
Here is what dad is taking:
(chemo) - dacogen -- just started 8/8/11 - 1 hr a day for 5 days- then that same regiment is repeated every 28 days)
Supplements:
Totals: (a day) - dad started the supplements on 7/31/11 -
His red and white stayed level at that time, but his platelets went up. He has not needed blood or platelet transfusions since he started the supplements- (blood draws only gave us results from 10 days he had on supplements alone before he started the chemo)- He was getting them (transfusions) every 2 days prior to starting them though.
8000 mg of Super Curcumin w/Bioperine Time Release 1000mg tabs- so 8 pills total for the day
1 teaspoon of Silver
2 tablespoon of Ojibwa Tea Liquid
6 tabs of Osteo-K( 3 with breakfast and 3 with dinner)
4 tabs of 1000mg D3 (so he ends up with 6000mg total for day between straight D3 tabs and what is in the Osteo-K)
How he does it:
Morning: 4000mg of curcumin (IMPORTANT- he can not have food or drink 1 hour before and up to 1 hour after so there is maximum absorption into his blood-according to the neighbor)
-- 1 hour later he takes the rest of his morning pills (other meds for other things- thyroid, etc) and he takes 3 tabs of the osteo-K which has K2 M-4, calcium and D3 in it.
-- He takes an additional 2 tabs of 1000mg of vitamin D3 so we can get higher does of D3(Osteo-K must be taken with food)
Before Lunch:
-- 1 teaspoon of Silver (hold under the tongue for 30 seconds then swallow) - once a day
-- 2 tablespoon of Ojibwa Tea Liquid (swallow once a day)
Dinner: he takes
-- 3 tabs of the osteo-K which has K2 M-4, calcium and D3 in it.
--- He takes an additional 2 1000mg of vitamin D3 (Osteo-K must be taken with food)
--- 1 hour after dinner he has 4000mg of curcumin- he waits an hour- takes his night pills and heads to bed.
SO - he is taking all of these supplements AND the low-dose chemo together at the same time.
I have seen trials with curcumin alone, trials with curcumin with D3, trials with D3 alone, trials with K2 M-4 alone and trials with K2 M-4 and D3 together, but never one with using them all. We have no idea what will happen, but we have high hopes. We have not been able to find a doctor who knows about this or is willing to give the thumbs up as they say they have no knowledge on the subject. MD Anderson has a whole group that deals with supplements and alternative therapies as well as trials, but dad does not want to go to Houston. So here we are trying it ourselves.
I will keep you posted on progress. Dad said if it isn't working - since we will have no way of knowing if chemo or the supplements are not working- we will adjust as we go. If he does well- he will stay on this regiment.
From what I have read- curcumin has killed cancer cells in vitrio and in viro. K2 M-4 and D3 have also done that. They said that they have studies K2 M-4 in vitro and seen some leukemia cells mature into normal cells. Of course these are all trials and the docs here and the FDA will not approve things without tons of research. I welcome people to do their own research and also let me know of there are any other alternatives out there that they have either tried or have heard about. Like I said- we have no way of knowing if this will help, but we will keep you informed on dad's progress.
Another member here suggested I start this thread as we have been corresponding through email for months and he thought we should share all of our knowledge and experiences so that others may benefit from it if there is any benefit to be had.
First background- then I will tell you want alternative treatments he is trying....
Dad is 70 years old (he just had his 70th birthday :-)
He was diagnosed with AML M0 on April 7, 2011. We brought him to Dana Farber the very next day where we were told the risks, etc. and he began induction within 2 days. At that point he had 88% blasts.
He flew into remission after induction and we were thrilled. Although he had a number of complications during that time, the team was amazing there and he made it through and went home. Unfortunately he became extremely dehydrated from lack of drinking water and was back in the hospital within 5 days in acute kidney failure. They fixed that too, but again he had a number of complications and was almost unable to go through consolidation.
We whipped him into shape and he finally got consolidation. He again ended up with complications: confusion, high fevers, infection, etc., but he again made it through. On our last day in Boston(we were to go home that afternoon) he had blood work and saw the doc. His counts seemed funny. They did a BM biopsy just to check what was going on.
The next week our worst fears were realized. Dad has relapsed. We couldn't believe it. We were devastated. (all this- for 4 months- for nothing we thought). He was 5 weeks out of consolidation.
He was given 4 choices: induction again, palliative care (which is lose-dose chemo for 1 hr. for 5 days on and then 28 days off and repeat, a clinical trial, or nothing in which case we would call hospice and he would die.)
Dad did not want to go through induction again- it was hard on him. He didn't want a trial because that meant months away from home again. He choose the low-dose chemo at home in NY.
The choices were given to him on 7/27/11 and they said he could wait until after his birthday party 8/7 to start the chemo. He was given anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to live.
Here comes the alternative part ......... while we were sitting on the porch on 7/31/11 a neighbor stopped by to see dad. This neighbor has multiple myeloma. He was given 2 years to live. That was 5 years ago. When he was diagnosed, he did not want to do chemo. He went MD Anderson where he was enrolled in a clinical trial. The trial was for 1 year and was given 8000mg of curcumin a day. When the trial was over he was not cured, but his cancer did not progress. He was at 30% when he went to MD Anderson and that is where he is today. He never stopped taking the curcumin. He says he can tired easily because his counts have stayed low, but that in general he feels fine. That was all dad needed to hear. He wanted to try it.
Dad asked for a list of everything the neighbor was doing. He obliged.
He takes:
1.) 8000mg of curcumin a day (4000 in the morning and 4000 a night). Super Curcumin w/Bioperine Time Release 1000mg-60 Tabs
Here is the website:
http://www.agelesscures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=1
We bought another brand (1000 mg with bioperine) to get us by at first from a local health food store, but ordered this one since it is the same curcumin he used in his clinical trial at MD Anderson.
2.) Silver : specifically Sovereign Silver (immune system booster)
Here is the website:
http://www.natural-immunogenics.com/
We bought it in a local health food store though
3.) Ojibwa Tea Liquid 16 oz (473 ml) by NOW -
Here is a website: http://www.betterhealthinternational.com/productDetails.asp?prodID=N4855&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=comparsionshopping&CAWELAID=556908777&gclid=CNe7q6GwxaoCFQfBKgodBUU8zg
We also got another version from the health food store (Essiac tea concentrate), but we also ordered this version as it is the one our neighbor takes
In addition to what the neighbor has taken for the past 5 years for his multiple myeloma, I have done research and saw some promise for other therapies for AML.
I found that Japan has done a number of clinical trials for AML using high dose vitamin D3 and high doses vitamin K2. There are different kinds of K2 out there, but Japan uses K2 M-4 (Not the K2 M-7 that we see on every vitamin shelf in the USA) It was a tough time to find K2 M-4 for sale in the US, but I finally did.
Here is the website: http://www.nbihealth.com/p-10-osteo-k.aspx
Dad has asked that we throw everything but the kitchen sink at this (AML). His current chemo doctor told us that he can not condone him taking the supplements, because he has no idea if they will #1. Have any kind of interaction with the chemo and #2. if they will cause the chemo not to work (ie. the supplements and chemo could cancel eachother out).
Dad said he didn't care and that he wants to take it all at the same time. SO- dad has become his own guinea pig.
Here is what dad is taking:
(chemo) - dacogen -- just started 8/8/11 - 1 hr a day for 5 days- then that same regiment is repeated every 28 days)
Supplements:
Totals: (a day) - dad started the supplements on 7/31/11 -
His red and white stayed level at that time, but his platelets went up. He has not needed blood or platelet transfusions since he started the supplements- (blood draws only gave us results from 10 days he had on supplements alone before he started the chemo)- He was getting them (transfusions) every 2 days prior to starting them though.
8000 mg of Super Curcumin w/Bioperine Time Release 1000mg tabs- so 8 pills total for the day
1 teaspoon of Silver
2 tablespoon of Ojibwa Tea Liquid
6 tabs of Osteo-K( 3 with breakfast and 3 with dinner)
4 tabs of 1000mg D3 (so he ends up with 6000mg total for day between straight D3 tabs and what is in the Osteo-K)
How he does it:
Morning: 4000mg of curcumin (IMPORTANT- he can not have food or drink 1 hour before and up to 1 hour after so there is maximum absorption into his blood-according to the neighbor)
-- 1 hour later he takes the rest of his morning pills (other meds for other things- thyroid, etc) and he takes 3 tabs of the osteo-K which has K2 M-4, calcium and D3 in it.
-- He takes an additional 2 tabs of 1000mg of vitamin D3 so we can get higher does of D3(Osteo-K must be taken with food)
Before Lunch:
-- 1 teaspoon of Silver (hold under the tongue for 30 seconds then swallow) - once a day
-- 2 tablespoon of Ojibwa Tea Liquid (swallow once a day)
Dinner: he takes
-- 3 tabs of the osteo-K which has K2 M-4, calcium and D3 in it.
--- He takes an additional 2 1000mg of vitamin D3 (Osteo-K must be taken with food)
--- 1 hour after dinner he has 4000mg of curcumin- he waits an hour- takes his night pills and heads to bed.
SO - he is taking all of these supplements AND the low-dose chemo together at the same time.
I have seen trials with curcumin alone, trials with curcumin with D3, trials with D3 alone, trials with K2 M-4 alone and trials with K2 M-4 and D3 together, but never one with using them all. We have no idea what will happen, but we have high hopes. We have not been able to find a doctor who knows about this or is willing to give the thumbs up as they say they have no knowledge on the subject. MD Anderson has a whole group that deals with supplements and alternative therapies as well as trials, but dad does not want to go to Houston. So here we are trying it ourselves.
I will keep you posted on progress. Dad said if it isn't working - since we will have no way of knowing if chemo or the supplements are not working- we will adjust as we go. If he does well- he will stay on this regiment.
From what I have read- curcumin has killed cancer cells in vitrio and in viro. K2 M-4 and D3 have also done that. They said that they have studies K2 M-4 in vitro and seen some leukemia cells mature into normal cells. Of course these are all trials and the docs here and the FDA will not approve things without tons of research. I welcome people to do their own research and also let me know of there are any other alternatives out there that they have either tried or have heard about. Like I said- we have no way of knowing if this will help, but we will keep you informed on dad's progress.
My moms BMB results came in. Shes in remission.
She finished her first round of high dose chemo three weeks ago and is still recovering from the complications. However, I dont know how long it will take before shes able to start her second round because shes weak right now.
Im also interested in the alternative treatments in case all else fails. I wonder how well it works for AML M0 (most cases Ive read are for some other thing). Nevertheless, I have done my own research and it seems that curcumin is indeed one of the most promising alternative treatments right now.
I hope everything will turn out fine with your dads CBC, Heather.
Im praying for him, too.
Take care, everyone.
Ricardo.
Everyone--my dad was admitted to the hospital Thanksgiving evening. He had a 102.3 temperature. We learn tomorrow if he has anything more than bronchitis as the blood cultures will be back. They have had him on IV fluids and antibiotics. His WBC and absolute blasts counts were sky high when we got here. They are down some so we are praying that it is the infection driving those numbers and not that they cancer has just taken off.
Dad is considering Dacogen. Lots of fears with this as daddy doesn't react in a textbook fashion to medicine. But we may not have a choice. If he does the Dacogen, we will continue with the supplements.
I will keep you posted. Thank you.
Theresa
I will continue to pray for your dad Theresa. I am hoping the infection will be gone soon so they can start the dacogen :-)
Dad got his weekly CBC today.
Dad's new blood counts:
white 10.5
red 3.26
Hemo 11
platelets 211
Yeah blood counts!! :-) His red is up because he got a transfusion on Friday. He looks and feels good so we will take it! He was even dancing in the yard over the weekend while decorating for Christmas :-) White and platelets are normal. Hooray! As always, we will continue to monitor and make changes as we go if nec.
All my best,
Heather
Ricardo- glad to hear your mom is in remission. I am sure they are waiting to do consolidation chemo. Hopefully the consolidation chemo will work and your mom will recover from the induction chemo.
Theresa continuing to pray for your dad. Hopefully the fever is nothing. and your dad can start treatment.
Abby
Theresa
Don't give up. Keep doing what you are doing. Remember he did have that break without supplements for a few days. I really think he would benefit from some chemo too. I am praying he will decide to do and it will bring some relief to those blast numbers. Always praying for you guys.
All my best,
Heather
I talked with a Naturopathic Oncologist on Friday. She is researching a couple of items that she think may have a chance against the cancer. I am waiting to hear from her if my dad can take them with his traditional medication for other stuff.
Blood results today...blasts are up (percentage and absolute) but no transfusion as platelets are up and is hemoglobin. We need something to kick in on the cancer. But if nothing does at least dad is at home where he wants to be and he doesn't feel horrible...so I guess we take quality of quantity for him. I'm NOT giving up...I am still researching like crazy just also trying to not be in complete denial.
Have a blessed week all.
Theresa
I am bummed to hear his counts went up again - glad to hear platelets and hemo are fighting the good fight to stay up though. I hope something starts kicking some cancer butt soon. All of the research you are doing is awesome! When you are ready, please make a big post of it all with links. I am keeping the prayer team going on the east coast. Go, fight, win is the motto , right? ;-)
All my best,
Heather
White- 10.5
Red- 3.00 (still riding off the transfusion the day after Thanksgiving here)
Hemo- 10.6
Platelets-187
ANC- 6.8
Everything looks pretty good. i am a little concerned though as his platelets were 211 last week and have dropped to 187. Of course drops like that make you fear the worst, but I will have to wait until next Monday to see if there is any indication that something is happening. His white has stayed virtually the same, so the platelet count could be a fluke. As always I will keep you updated.
All my best,
Heather
I would be too concerned about the platelets. The white blood count is holding in and the other numbers are good.
Everyone--
Heather asked that I put a list of what we are doing to try to help dad.
I feel that I must make the disclaimer that I too am not NOT a doctor. I am just trying to research and fight with and for my dad. We have no other choice than supplemental therapy right now. I run everything past the oncologist, pharmacist and now a naturopathic doctor (focusing on oncology) in Oregon. I don't have exact does for everything with me right now but will follow up with that info later.
K2-MK4 (45 mg/twice a day--liquid form of the vitamin)
D3
Curcumin (8000 mgs/day--same one Heather's dad is taking)
Silver (Silver biotics is the product--2 teaspoons a day)
Essiac Tea (discontinued for now--upsetting his stomach)
Coenzyme Q10 (I think 100 mg a day but am not sure on this one)
Limu Juice (10 oz) a day.
Following is a list that we are researching. I heard about the first two from a naturopathic doctor in Oregon. I read about Quercertin in a book that said it was a better choice for leukemia that curcumin. Not sure.
Parthenolide
Boswellic Acid
Quecertin
We will be adding arbinogalatans (powder) to potentially help with the neutrophils. The naturopahtic doctor thinks that this may help bring dad's neutrophils up as right now they are zero.
We have not gotten anything to fight back the cancer YET. But the supporting cast of red, hemoglobin, platelets and even lymphocytes are improving. We are praying that we get something to hit the cancer soon.
Following is rough counts on dad's blood from yesterday as I don't have the report in front of me. Note that dad has not had a blood transfusion since 11/27 so we are pleased that one was not needed as the doctors were sure he would need platelets this past Friday.
white 61.1
Red 2.83
Hemo 9.3
Platelets 25 (Up from 21 three days earlier)
Lymphoctyes (3.5 (up from 2.5 three days earlier) (Although doctor said we can't read much into this because of the blasts. I don't understand or agree with that...this is up from 0.5 when dad was in the hosptial so I am taking that as a good sign.
Every family and individual has to make their own decision on how to fight this monster. We have no other options right now and refuse to just give up so we are trying the natural options.
I pray for everyone in this group. I pray for your healing and/or your loved ones healing.
Take care.
Theresa