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.

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deleted_user 02/26/2009

Hi All -

My mom is checking into the hospital this afternoon for induction chemo w/ cytarabine and daunorubicine, just wondering how quickly the side effects kick in and in what order, etc.

Thanks,
Damon

butterflyxlife 02/27/2009

It varies for everyone-- probably one of the first side effects will be nausea... but they'll most likely be on top of that with meds... as much as possible.. fatigue..

Your mom is in my prayers! I hope the Ara-C is going alright for her!! *hugs*

deleted_user 02/27/2009

Thanks for the answer (and prayers!). She talked to her doctors and nurses, and they push the antinausea stuff as a matter of course. Makes sense - why not do it, since the only side effects are things that prevent you from operating heavy machinery, and the heaviest machinery she's currently operating is her cell phone and Scrabble tiles for the duration.

deleted_user 02/27/2009

Hi Damon,
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

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