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.
Hello everyone,
My name is John. I am an active duty Officer in the United States Navy.
I recently (December 19th) went to the ER with constant recurring headaches. A CT was negative but a blood test showed very high white blood cell (22,000). A differential revealed 62% were eosinophils and 5% basophils. Both much higher than normal. Red blood cells were in the normal range as were platelets.
Just had another test (Jan 5th). White blood was the same. 73% eosinophils and basophils 2.5%. Red and platelets were slightly lower, but still in normal range. Lyme, lupus, celiac and rheumatoid have all come back negative.
Have any of you had similar blood results in the past?
Are there instances of AML where red blood cells and platelets remain at decent levels?
Are the presence of blasts the only indicator of acute versus chronic?
I don't feel sick at all, but definitely fatigued and a little off balance.
Thank you so much for you help. I am very happy to have found this forum and am impressed with the open and frank dialog and courage displayed here.
V.r,
John
My name is John. I am an active duty Officer in the United States Navy.
I recently (December 19th) went to the ER with constant recurring headaches. A CT was negative but a blood test showed very high white blood cell (22,000). A differential revealed 62% were eosinophils and 5% basophils. Both much higher than normal. Red blood cells were in the normal range as were platelets.
Just had another test (Jan 5th). White blood was the same. 73% eosinophils and basophils 2.5%. Red and platelets were slightly lower, but still in normal range. Lyme, lupus, celiac and rheumatoid have all come back negative.
Have any of you had similar blood results in the past?
Are there instances of AML where red blood cells and platelets remain at decent levels?
Are the presence of blasts the only indicator of acute versus chronic?
I don't feel sick at all, but definitely fatigued and a little off balance.
Thank you so much for you help. I am very happy to have found this forum and am impressed with the open and frank dialog and courage displayed here.
V.r,
John
I have never seen your situation as a physician or as a member of DS. The steroids will definitely reduce the eosinophil count. I must have missed that you had a bone marrow bx. What did it show? I will be praying that all of these abnormalities have an easy solution.
Cliff
Writing with one last update before I move onto the "appropriate" board. :)
Looks like I am at a 99% diagnosis when considering the large number of tests that have come back and the symptoms I have had.
I have Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES), caused by a myleoproliferative neoplasm, with an unknown genetic marker. I start treatment on Gleevec tomorrow as it seems steroids are ineffective. Docs say that gleevec works in cases like mine about 50% of the time. If not, then we move onto more potent forms of therapy (interferon alpha etc...)
I am hopeful that the Gleevec will work. Would appreciate all of you keeping us in your thoughts. I know that while I am not in the AML group, I will always be checking in here to see how you are all doing. You are all so brave and courageous as you approach your specific form of leukemia.
Since mine is unknown genetically, it is unknown how the outcome will likely end up, but I hope to meet my challenge with all the poise and grace that you all have demonstrated here.
I don't think that I could be in better hands medically. This thing is so rare that I was moved immediately to the National Institute of Health with the international eosinophilia expert in record time. Very happy with my doctors, Dr. Amy Klion and Dr. Paneez Khoury. These ladies are rockstars and I am happy to have them.
Thank you for helping guide me through the initial phases of this diagnosis. Starting the fight in earnest tomorrow!
Very respectfully,
John
Hugs and prayers.
Karen