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.
Cliff and I thought it would be good for everyone on the forum to enjoy and be inspired by all of the survivors' happy birthdays.
A "happy birthday" can be when you just got a good medical report, or it could just be any period of time you want to tell us about (e.g., Ben's 100 day birthday).
Please let's keep this thread positive -- if you are having trouble or issues, there are all of the rest of the threads for you, and we will surely help you. But we want this one to be one where those who have been just DXed can come and say: "Hey, all of these folks have made it and are celebrating -- I can make it too!!!
Please provide positive info from your recent exam if there was one. If not, just want to tell us about a time milestone.
Let me be the first to start. I got a great report yesterday. I had AML and still have MDS, but no matter -- I am three years and going on three months since my last treatment ... chemo only. I am now 69. Here are my important blood numbers: WBC: 4.8 (good); RBC: 3.64 (low); MCV:114 (high); MCH 39 (high); platelet: 110 (low). Might sound like bad numbers to you, but they have been consistently there for 3 and 3 now, so it just shows that survival does not depend on perfect numbers. My onc says as long as they don't change dramatically, that shows I don't have a blast problem (relapse). They don't want me back there for another six months. So wish me a happy birthday! -- dave
A "happy birthday" can be when you just got a good medical report, or it could just be any period of time you want to tell us about (e.g., Ben's 100 day birthday).
Please let's keep this thread positive -- if you are having trouble or issues, there are all of the rest of the threads for you, and we will surely help you. But we want this one to be one where those who have been just DXed can come and say: "Hey, all of these folks have made it and are celebrating -- I can make it too!!!
Please provide positive info from your recent exam if there was one. If not, just want to tell us about a time milestone.
Let me be the first to start. I got a great report yesterday. I had AML and still have MDS, but no matter -- I am three years and going on three months since my last treatment ... chemo only. I am now 69. Here are my important blood numbers: WBC: 4.8 (good); RBC: 3.64 (low); MCV:114 (high); MCH 39 (high); platelet: 110 (low). Might sound like bad numbers to you, but they have been consistently there for 3 and 3 now, so it just shows that survival does not depend on perfect numbers. My onc says as long as they don't change dramatically, that shows I don't have a blast problem (relapse). They don't want me back there for another six months. So wish me a happy birthday! -- dave
FAN ******* TASTIC. Happy 18 months and happy 15 months with NO CHEMO. Truly a birthday that is worth celebrating.
Ed
It seems like a mini birthday for Ben today,........ We get to see all 7 grandchildren at the same time. YEAH!!!!!! He's waited a long time for this occasion.
Love and BEST thoughts to all the group.
Sandra........
p.s.
Shimauta,
It's good to have you back.
Another mini-birthday! My mouth is getting weak from smiling so much. Congratulations to you and Ben. Give an extra hug to those grandchildren for me. Hey....I have a 29 year old daughter, a 27 year old daughter and a 24 year old son....no grandchildren. What am I doing wrong??
Cliff
Sandra -- Happy Birthday for you and Ben -- it sounds like you had a great party with all your grandchildren.
It is great to hear the good news -- keep it coming everyone!
-- dave
Happy Birthday to everyone!
Today my mom's counts have started to recover from her first round of consolidation after her relapse, and our celebration is that she had enough energy to stay awake all day!! ( and she even did some laundry! ) Funny how you can never truly appreciate things like this and almost find it funny when you want to dance around and scream to the world, MY MOM IS FEELING GOOD TODAY!!!
Love to you all,
Bridget
Take care and keep us up on how your Mom is doing -- dave
I am caught up in your JOY an Excitement of your mum's news.
It's wonderful!!!! Give Mum a big hug from me (I'll put a mask on)
Tell her to keep moving forward one day at a time. Keep positive,!
my thought and prayers are for you both.
Love and hugs Sandra.
Cliff
I will give her a hug when I see her next friday from everyone! She lives 6 hours away, so I rarely see her, but call her 4 times a day ;)
I have decided that this time ( since she has relapsed ), I am going to focus on everything positive we have going for us and celebrate each day, and try not to worry about what tomorrow might bring. She has another blood draw today, so hopefully I get to do a happy dance again later this afternoon!
Love to you all,
Bridget
Andrea
Hemoglobin - 9.2
WBC - 4.3
Platelets - 16
Yes, the platelets are low, but she gets transfused tomorrow morning, but it is sooooo much better than the 8 to 10 hours she has had to spend in the hospital for past transfusions of 2 units of blood and 2 units of platelets and she is thrilled to be able to stop the Neupogen shots!!!
Yay, it's such a great day!!! Hope you all are also enjoying the day too!!!
I am doing a tarantella right now, and if you don't believe that I am actually dancing, ask Andrea. I am thrilled. That was always my anxiety. I had donors, but would they have me?? I am so looking forward to writing personally to my donor in Germany, once my second anniversary of my BMT comes around. There are good people in this world....even some that do not post on this website (but very few...LOL).
I am so happy for you and your Mom.
Cliff
Such lovely news! It is such a relief when numbers start turning around, and congratulations on the news of a willing donor. Thank God for donors. Such a happy day for your mom and family! The news has brought a smile into my day.
Take Care,
Suzanne
Absolutely great news! You too Andrea! It seems this thread is dancing with good news. This is a battle, but one where we can all rejoice as well.
I'll join you cliff in dancing!
Ed