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.

307 Members
1,142 Posts
0 Online
Leukemias
/ Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Support Group

Blasts

urquette
urquette
If your last BMB showed no signs of AML how do the blasts reappear?
julieking
julieking
That is a tough question. If you have no minimal residual disease that is a good sign you will not relapse. My AML was weird where it developed in a tumor in my intestine. I had a completely normal marrow. It makes me think somehow my marrow wasn't workng perfectly and caused a extramedullary tumor. Sorry I'm not more help. This disease is so technical. I had doctors from the Hutch and Harvard that couldn't give me a treatment plan. Hopefully eventually they will figure out a cure.
zkat
zkat
The theory that I heard (as someone who had no minimal residual disease....until my relapse....) is that there may be some "leftover" cancer cells that are too tiny to be seen in current tests. This is also why for those undergoing chemo only, induction is supposed to bring you to remission, but they always do several additional rounds of chemo. Even if they don't see any blasts. Because the assumption is that after induction there are always additional cancer cells left that cannot be seen under the microscope.

Hope this makes sense... (and I'm happy to read any additional explanations...)

Abby
urquette
urquette
Thank you Abby. My husband cannot take the consolidation treatments because of age. He did take the induction and it wiped him out. He has had NO other problems after rehab. After his 3rd BMB there was no evidence of NO AML showing. He takes Vidaza once a month for maintenance. He has another BMB on the 11th of this month. Please pray there will continue to be no blasts showing. Thank you.
Noodle65
Noodle65
http://m.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia-acutemyeloidaml/detailedguide/leukemia-acute-myeloid-myelogenous-diagnosed

The link above from the American Cancer has a great explanation and confirms that blasts in the marrow 5% or lower is normal as blasts are immature cells that everyone has.

I will be praying for great results on the 11th

Blessings

Julie
urquette
urquette
Thank you Julie!!!
Noodle65
Noodle65
Urquette,

How did your husband's bmb go and have you recieved any results. Praying for continued remission.

Blessings
Julie
urquette
urquette
No, we have not heard. He had it Wednesday. We don't see the dr. until the 23rd but I am going to call the first of this week and try to find out. I appreciate your prayers and please continue.
dbrowncsuaedu
dbrowncsuaedu
Urquette -- we will be praying that the BMB comes out with no evidence of disease. Take care -- daveB