
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.
Your mom is in my prayers! I hope the Ara-C is going alright for her!! *hugs*
As Butterfly has said, everyone experiences side effects differently. My husband had the same drugs for his induction, and he had no side-effects for the first 6 days. He was up and about the ward and around the hospital (with a mask) and craved a hamburger one night and had a midnight feast :) He was given prophalactic medication in anticipation of nausea, so that was never an issue for him. By the 4th day he started experiencing stomach pain and diahorea - and that was the worst pain and discomfort until he decided that it was bad enough to take a narcotic painkiller. During the neutropenic phase when his blood counts had zeroed out he slept most of the time and felt exhausted without effort. Just when things were starting to feel a bit better, what was left of his hair started falling out. He didn't care about that, but it might be more of an issue for your Mom so be prepared for that. Those are some of the physical effects, but there were emotional/psychological effects for him too - nobody likes to feel so vulnerable and unsure of what might happen next, especially when infection might be an issue until white blood counts start coming up again. And of course induction is just the beginning ..... As has been said many times on this forum, ask questions and have them answered to your satisfaction, and remember that there IS a patient's Bill of Rights. Your Mom deserves the very best treatment and you and your family are the one's who will need to advocate for her! I wish you all strength and the very best outcome for your Mom!
Scatterling