Keir's port may be infected and his fever was 104. So - about fifteen minutes after they started chemo - they stopped it to bring his fever down. The attending physician checked him and said it's a high suspicion of port infection.

So now I'm upset because chemo was stopped - will this impact his chances of remission? Obviously they plan to restart, but I'm not sure of the timing.

Lori.... something important I want to emphazise in the resume you did:

AML CAN BE CURED !!!! This is not true to all type of cancers !!!


Sorry cant write longer, and since english is not my native language I dont usually write well. But as a mother myself, I understand your pain and scare quite well. It will pass by, be sure, sooner it will be better.

My thoughts and prayers with you.

Ana

We had to wait about 5 days after mum was admitted before the chemo was able to be started.

We were also on edge waiting for it all to start, but once it started we were off and racing.

Try and just take one session at a time. We looked at each stage one at a time and just thought we will get through this one, then the next.

His numbers will start to come down so its important to try and be as sterile as possible and to keep strength up .... yes there will be fevers but if you can limit them as much as possible

xxx

His temp went down and came up again; the nurse is telling me they can't give chemo until it's under 101. I am trying not to panic but it's very hard. They have been giving him antibiotics of course, and tylenol and some ice around him. But it's just so persistent. The port area may be infected; they'll look at that. But my fear: this is the second half of the induction chemo - will a delay mean a worse outcome?

Lori,

Please do not worry. Delaying the chemotherapy will have no influence on Keir's recovery and cure. The infection has to be treated before chemo can start, because the cells that fight infection will be destroyed by the treatment. PLEASE believe me that fevers and infections are part of this whole miserable disease, but Keir will come out of this healthy and strong.

My thoughts and prayers are with both of you.

Love,

Cliff

Lori,
I want to to reflect on this phrase, ' Pray. Do Not Worry. Worry is useless."
My induction was stopped as well. I crashed and made my first ICU trip once they turned on my first chemo treatment. Three days later, we got started again. I realize this process does not fit any logic or norm that you have likely seen, read about or would have expected. This is why our group has become a lifeline. We all expect UNExpected, knowing we will move forward. keir will get through this patch. They may consider a PICC line before running another Port. I am very fussy about my lines once in as I have has two infections and I feel bad because the fever and associated pain are extreme. They will help him. Delay does not mean a worse outcome. The key is to get the blast count down. There are many ways to do that. Some of us didnt have remission in induction and then had another round on the heels, and did fine then, so remember, there is no one answer and no right or wrong. I went into remission and relapsed 4 weeks later, so I was induced again.. Since everyone handles things differently, our bodies and their reaction can be unpredictable. The docs will ebb and flow with him. TRUST.
Stay positive. It will begin to turn around. My prayer are with you.
Peace.
Andrea

Lori, I can't add anything to what Andrea has said in her post. BELIEVE it. Everyone reacts a little differently and infections do happen at the port site sometimes. Your medical team will know exactly what to do to if that is the problem. Keir will get through this. Don't panic. He WILL achieve remission. At one point Jay was went through a month long induction which did not achieve remission, and they gave him one week of rest and started all over again. I don't think that will happen to Keir, but the point is that they WILL get him in remission, whatever it takes. Please try not to worry. Breathe and take one day at a time. We are here for you.

Praying faithfully,
--Tina

Again - thank you. I feel guilty that I am not able to offer much on the other threads - please know I'm reading them and sending positive prayers and healing thoughts to all who are struggling.

Keir's oncologist restarted the chemo asap in the morning having determined that there was no reason to stop it (the nurse apparently should not have stopped it without calling the onc. attending, but there was some confusion). His fever has been going up and down, but the chemo went okay. The surgeon came in from home to look at the port. He does not think it's infected (though is not certain). He thinks Keir may be having some sort of skin reaction to perhaps the local anesthesia or something else as the area where the port actually is is not the worst. They had gone in twice for the port - once failed as the vein structure was weird, so they redid it. They'll keep an eye on things; it may have to come out, it may not.

Thank you all for the comments about remission being achievable even if not on the first crack. They throw around numbers that make it sound like almost everyone does, and so of course, I was anticipating being hopeless if that did not happen; anticipatory terror I guess you'd say. I'm working on keeping Keir's spirits up as best as possible. We are watching South Park and other comedy shows as often as we can. Right now he's doing a meditation cd while resting in bed. I hope he can go for a walk later.

Everyone has been a lifesaver, and I don't say that lightly. I hope I can add something on the other threads as I feel I've been extremely needy and you've all been fantastic. But please know you are all in my thoughts.

Lori

I had the same situation with my hicmans.I had more pain and discomfort from my hickmans than from the chemo. I ended up with a rash at the hickmans site.They removed the hick mans and discovered after various consultations with dermatologists that I was allergic to hospital tape. I finished the rest of my treatments with pic lines that were held in place with dry bandages that were changed daily.

lisa

Lori,
Same as Lisa, my issue was tape, but mostly it was the bio batch. I ended up with a blister., then everything, all of my skin got sensitive. A very weird dynamic that I will never understand, but I am careful about dressings used and mine were changed daily as well. Once they figure out the issue, they will fix it. I think if it was an infected line, it would have been pulled by now.
Keep on, keeping on. We are all pulling for Keir.
Peace,love and hope.
Andrea

Hi Lori

When diagnosed with AML and treatment starting it feels like you're in a tornado, all of a sudden your world is spinning in a different direction and it is scary. I think sometimes its harder on the carers as they watch us go through the fevers and pain, but my best advice is to take it one day at a time. Get through each day as it comes and try not to wander your worries and thoughts into the future. I have had a number of chemo treatments and a transplant and this was the only way I could get through it and I refused to allow my husband to speak about anything more than one day ahead until the doctors talk about going home, then plans were made.

It is hard but you both get through it. Sending my best wishes.

Nicole

Hi Lori,

I was also recently diagnosed with AML (July 25, started chemo the next day). I hope everything goes very well for Keir. Please take care of yourself as well.

Jen