MDS eventually progresses to AML, so that is what your grandmother has. No, there are no other options for treatment other than 7+3 chemo. The goal of this treatment is to induce remission and eventually bring blood counts to normal. Your doctor was right recommending her to go to the hospital immediately, because AML progresses very fast. You seem surprised that the doctor waits so long to see her. But what exactly does she want to hear? It is either she gets 7+3 induction chemo or nothing. Unfortunately, this is the reality of this disease. It is good that she is offered this treatment in her age. Sometimes elderly patients are considered not fit to take 7+3 chemo, because of multiple health problems that they have. It is difficult to predict the results of 7+3 treatment, but if she will decide to continue waiting or not to treat she will not live very long. I hope it helps, and I am sorry that your grandmother is sick. Wishing you the best.

Thanks tashka and I appreciate your honest reply. I believe the Dr. told my grandmother that she is going to look at other options?! Therefore, I do not know if my grandmother knows the severity of how fast AML can progress or she isn't telling me.

BJ -- please keep us up on your grandmother's case. I too am surprised that they would give chemo to someone this old, but apparently she is otherwise in good health, and I would not second guess the med team, especially since you already have a second opinion confirming it. There are alternative treatments that are discussed on this forum -- if you cannot find them get back with us and we will give you the URL -- the name of the thread is Alternative treatments for AML. The person under most discussion on that thread (Heather's dad) had chemo before his doctors did not give him much hope and only a few weeks to life. I say this to state that I see no downside with the chemo if in fact your grandmother is in good health and the doctors feel that she can withstand it. If a second round is not possible then there is still room for the alternative treatments. But I would not delay with the chemo. There is risk -- that being of an infection. I am a 2.5 year survivor and had my share of infections. We can give you tips on how to minimize the risk and how to deal with the side effects. Please stay with us. -- dave

You are very welcome. I hope your grandmother gets treatment soon. Please, let us know how she and you are doing.

I just wanted to second what everyone is saying. Your grandmother needs to start induction chemo, 7+3, right away. To give an idea of how fast this disease can progress, I went to the ER and my blast level was 15%, five hours later when I was admitted to the hospital (in a larger city known for cancer treatment) my blast level was 30%. This is a fast growing cancer so do not delay treatment. It also can kill very quickly so I would say go see your grandmother soon if that is possible. So sorry to hear that she is sick. If you have questions please ask.

Thanks Dave and Abby for replying. I called her Dr. and left a voicemail with the nurse. I said I do not believe she has enough information as she wasn't even told she has AML. My grandmother would have googled for that information if she knew. And, if they do not have any other options, if they could call her in ASAP instead of waiting until her appointment. I really feel my grandmother does not realize the severity and I don't want to alarm her without the Dr. confirming her prognosis. Whether she decides on treatment or not, she needs to know the possibility of this taking her faster than she realizes.

I don't want to second-guess your grandmother, but she might delay treatment just because she feels more or less OK. She might know the diagnosis but doesn't realize how dangerous and aggressive this disease is. She had MDS for a while and was successfully treated. This may also play a part in her thinking that things are not that bad and she can wait. Many AML patients feel fine for some time even with high blast counts. It all depends on an individual. My father went to work with hemoglobin of 5 and high blast count. I hope she will get the right information-from the doctor or from you. Wishing her and you all the best.

Tashka triggered a thought I have had for a long time -- I was shocked when I heard how many diagnosed with AML do not make it even for a few months. This was hard for me to believe giving those on the survivors list. My take on it is that a lot of people just don't feel that bad, and they treat it with pain killers and such thus further masking the problem until they are past the point of no return. In my case the headache I had felt like the incephalitis headache I had a few years earlier and they sent me to the ER for a spinal tap. That is when they discovered I did not have any (so to speak) white blood cells and Dxed me for leukemia -- it took a BMD when they finally determined it was AML caused by MDS.

Don't delay -- it is not going to go away or get better on its own -- it can only get worse without treatment. She may elect paliative care and that's OK if she does not want to face the miseries of chemo. But at least that will be a decision that she makes and not something that chance makes for her. I was 65 when I went through it three years ago, and I would do it again in a heartbeat ... even if I were 98. --dave

Hello Everyone, the nurse called my grandmother and confirmed she has AML. At her appt, when she said she had to think about chemo, they didn't even inform her of #1 that she has AML, #2 the dangers of untreating AML.

She is concerned about the chemo and vomiting. My grandmother had surgery for hiatal hernia - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002122/ and she cannot vomit, only dry heave. She is not obese and does not smoke. The nurse said they can give her medicine for vomiting, but she still will be nauseous. She did say she can stop the treatment whenever she wants.

She was very interested in Heather's regimen, which I sent to her. She started taking Protadim - http://www.protandim.com/what-is-protandim/ a couple of weeks ago, which contains Turmeric Extract. But, I do not know the amount and if has the same effect as curcumin.

I really think she will get everything on Heathers list and hopefully it will help. I know she will do her research now that she has been told she has AML. She has her appt this Fri. and I will keep you posted.

Thanks again for everyone's feedback!

I do not feel that the fear of vomiting should deter your grandmother -- they really do have meds that can deal with this, and many people get thru chemo now without this side effect in a major way. Chemo could stave off the rapid development of blasts before they overtake her, and if she decides to stop, then the alternative treatments are always there. Weigh all of the alternatives and then it will be up to her to make the decision -- I am glad to see she is doing her own research. Please keep us up on what she decides. Thanks -- dave

Hello Everyone,

I received little information so far about my grandmothers appt. through my mother. But, I am to find out more later when my grandmother gets home. All I know, the Dr. suggested a diabetic injection under the skin 5-10 days to see if it works. Of course, my grandmother can stop at any time. She told my mom that she still has not made up her mind. I appreciate everyones concern about her doing chemo straight away, but I really do not believe she is going to do chemo and not sure about this diabetic drug. She is not diabetic. My concern is not getting her to do chemo or any other treatment if she doesnt want, but believe she still does not know the severity or fast progression of AML.

I do not want to lose my grandmother, but I do not want her to go un-informed. Either way, she is going to get sick and will need help. My family needs to make plans to help her and my grandfather. My grandfather depends on her so much and will need assistance when she gets ill.

I feel like am I the voice so to speak and have researched AML so much this past week. I did ask if she would try and find out the subtype, so I could get some idea. I have read several places that diagnosis is 4-6 weeks worst case scenario. But, there have been cases I read that they last for 6 months to a year(s). I do not know if those cases had MDS prior like my grandmother (for the past 4 years). Everything I read about AML with prior MDS in older patients has been grim. The statistics and articles are vague as I know it is a case-by-case basis and not much is documented in my grandmothers age range.
If there is anything you may provide, links, articles, experience, anything, etc., I have found some comfort in trying to find everything I can about this and need help on how to help my grandmother realize her options. I do not feel like I am over-reacting, just being proactive in an unpredictable disease that could quickly take my Hero.

I will keep this thread updated and thanks again for any information and support - Brandy

I spoke with my grandmother (gm) and the shot my mom was on about is not for diabetes, but how a diabetic would take the shot - in the skin and not into a vein or port, but it is a type of chemo medicine. The Dr. wants to start her on Monday and again, my gm said she wants to think about it. The Dr. scheduled her next appointment in two weeks unless my gm calls and wants to start the treatment. My gm said she doesnt think she will do this treatment neither. I asked if the Dr. went into detail about AML and how it progresses, she said the Dr. didnt go into detail. I used this opportunity to inform my gm of what I have researched and how this disease could have a very fast progression. She told me several times that she knows how serious it is and doesnt think she wants to do this second recommendation neither.

She is taking her protandim, beta-glucan, and oriental tea pills, which may improve her chances. She hasnt given up, she is just doing her own thing naturally.

I can honestly say that I felt relief that she acknowledged what I have been so anxious about the past week. Again, I do not want to lose my gm, but this is not my decision. I am now focusing on information to recognize symptoms of the progression and planning with my family of what we have to face. My gm has her mortality to face and we will prepare for the worst. Since my sister and I live over 2,000 miles away, we will arrange our time to see her. I am going to visit next Saturday for a week and my husband is coming later that week with our son. I hope that it wont be too late and just another of many trips we will get to see her. My sister and I want our selfish time with her without making her feel too vulnerable and our family needs to think of our grandfather.

Have you read on the Alternative Treatments thread? If she does not want to go the chemo route, I would strongly suggest some of the key ingredients that Heather is giving to her dad. Please let us know if you cannot find it or otherwise need help -- Heather will be glad to help. Thanks -- dave

Hello Dave - I did send her the links and story. She watched the Osteo-K video and will probably order those pills as well. Osteo-K was the only thing she mentioned getting so far.

I think that is the item they did the trials on in Japan, so that is the main ingredient. It would be a good start. -- dave