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 all,
I am happy to say I am coming on my 22nd "birthday", aka post BMT date, in October. I was diagnosed with MDS RAEB-t which is basically AML in April 1999 at the age of 40. I had a successful BMT at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in NYC from my brother's marrow, and have been lucky to enjoy mainly good health since. They did a T-cell reduction to his marrow and that, along with luck, left me with no GVHD at all.
But for the past 8 or 9 years I have been consistently anemic. For the first few years hemoglobin, which should be 11.6-15 in women, was between 10-10.6. For the past 5 years it's dropped as low as 9.4 and never above 9.8.
My primary physician referred me to a hematologist in 2017, and he did regular blood tests for a year and a half. Since the numbers leveled off at roughly 9.6 he said it was simply my "new normal". My RGB and hematocrit are correspondingly low. WBC and platelets are in the normal range, as is my iron, B12 and folate.
I will be following up again with the hematologist, but I'm wondering if anyone has or knows someone was has anemia develop years after BMT. I of course blame my brother & his lazy marrow - he is nearly 5 years older than me!
For all who are currently dealing with AML or ALL let my story and my friend John's inspire you. As I said I am approaching 22 yrs post BMT for AML, my friend John (who I met in hospital) is approaching 22 years post autologous BMT for ALL. When I was sick I LOVED hearing from survivors!! My anemia and a bit of asthma are my only lasting side effects and I feel oh so lucky and John is string and healthy too. I have been healthy, happy &.productive in the 20 years since I fully recovered. So I encourage you to look ahead with hope!!