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.
Can someone give me a simple explanation what this means?
Today, I feel scared. My brother seems to be on a plateau and the word we get is the docs expect the progress to be slow and on the course it is taking. But I don't get to sit in on the sessions and every week he seems to need blood and platelets. This week he got two of each.
He relapsed after the BMT, is FLT3 positive, and back on the trial drug ASP2215 that helped get him ready for transplant.
This drug has been keeping the leukemia at bay in hopes that the new immune system can grow and take hold. It just seems to taking so long and I so wish we could get begin to see some real progress for him.
He is at home but life is still so limited by all this. He can't work and has to be careful about exposure.
My mom turns 90 on Thursday and all she can do is pray ----
Sorry, I need some support right now
Twilight
Today, I feel scared. My brother seems to be on a plateau and the word we get is the docs expect the progress to be slow and on the course it is taking. But I don't get to sit in on the sessions and every week he seems to need blood and platelets. This week he got two of each.
He relapsed after the BMT, is FLT3 positive, and back on the trial drug ASP2215 that helped get him ready for transplant.
This drug has been keeping the leukemia at bay in hopes that the new immune system can grow and take hold. It just seems to taking so long and I so wish we could get begin to see some real progress for him.
He is at home but life is still so limited by all this. He can't work and has to be careful about exposure.
My mom turns 90 on Thursday and all she can do is pray ----
Sorry, I need some support right now
Twilight
Your brother is in my prayers. I am sorry you have these trials.
Your family has my love and support,
Sandra
I am so sorry to hear that your brothers progress has plateaued. As others have said, transfusions are very much the standard. I needed them twice as long as average due to slow count recovery. I stopped counting. That great news is that the drugs are keeping the leukemia on check. I'm praying that almighty God will touch his body and it will start making the healthy cells it was created to do.
Blessings
Julie
Hugs and prayers.
Karen
I am not the kind who prefers to bury ones head in the sand. I need answers and understanding - not too much but enough to have a simple comprehension of the process.
To all, you are a kind, compassionate group. May our communal prayers work miracles.
When on chemo or chemo like drugs -all blood counts ususlly drop, as the drugs are killing bad cells (in aml the whites/Cancer cells are fast dividing) but the drugs are killing the good cells too (bc they too are fast dividing) these are whites(in particular neutrophils, platelets & red blood cells)
hemoglobin is a Measurement of the oxygen level in red blood cells, it basically tells the doctor when it's very low (below 8 usually) people usually feel very fatigued and hence get transfused. Both platelets and hemo are unfortunately affected during treatment and that is why patients get transfusions until the new healthy cell lines start producing enough to keep levels above certain transfusion thresholds
I'm praying for your brother, always
Xo
Feeling a bit better this morning. One day at a time is all any of us have.
Prayers for all
Thanks for this boost to the spirits. It is hard because i am on the outside looking in and trying to understand the puzzle without having all the pieces.
I pray God's will is to have both our brothers success stories for this new drug. I dont care how long it takes if it works. I so pray he gets enough years to outlive his mother and see his daughter marry and bear a child or two. I know i shouldnt try bartering with God but in the face of eternity, i keep asking for a decade or two.
We share a special bond. Lets keep updates and prayers ongoing.
Thanks
Susan aka Twilight
We had a lovely birthday party for mom's 90th and brother was able to come but was tired afterwards -- but he was with us and even went to Mass by himself early on Palm Sunday.
To those of you of the Christian faith, Blessed Holy Week.
I wish I understood more about how ASP 2215 works. It is supposed to mainly attack the leukemia cells, but I am sure that normal cells done fare well with it either. The blood product support may have to go on a bit longer, but your brother should turn a corner soon. The most important thing is that the bad blasts are being killed off VERY NICELY!!! Let's just focus on that.
Cliff
God Willing the plans will work.
Thanks for the input Cliff
Praying for Jack, he will get there.
DaveJ
DaveJ