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.
Sometimes just when you think you are on the fast track, things change.
I have posted often about my VERY slow count recovery. I am on a treatment plan of chemo only-four consolidation sessions. After round one, it took my platelets 72 days to get close to 100 (96). My team decided to slightly lower my high dose AriC (funny) from 3 to 2. They explained that there is nothing that shows the outcome will be less favorable with this dosage.
Now, at day 65, I have been waiting to go in for consolidation #3. Last week my counts were awesome. I had jumped up 54 points in two and half weeks to 92. my WBC was 5.2, HCT 30 and ANC at 3.9. The docs "toyed" with admitting me that day but decided to give it another week to see if my counts would climb a little more..........
Yesterday, I show up all packed and ready for my six day stay in chemo land feeling very well. That is until my labs came back. Platelets had dropped 4 points to 88 and ANC from 3.9 to 3.7. My body has done this before-made a big jump and then dropped a bit. I sat there wishing they had admitted me the previous week
After the disappointment of hearing my platelets had dropped, I get the "oh and your getting a BMB" WHAT????? Everyone on this board knows the effect that has on us. This will be my 6th since March. The procedure is not bad as I have my favorite PA (who looks 18) Dan Dan the bone marrow man, do all of mine. It is the now, the waiting.
After the procedure, one of my docs came in to assure me they do not believe they will find anything but that want to be extra, extra sure. That is a good thing and I know it is better to know all that we can. My last BMB was on June 6th and all was clear plus I've had a chemo treatment in the interim. She also discussed the potential of only doing 3 consolidation and/or lowering my dose again. Any change in the original plan worries me.
Thanks for letting me drown on. So sorry to be so needy, this just came out of the blue. I know God holds me in the palm of His hand and I trust Him to get me through this "speed bump" but encouragement from my daily strength family would truly help at this time.
Love and Blessing,
Julie
I have posted often about my VERY slow count recovery. I am on a treatment plan of chemo only-four consolidation sessions. After round one, it took my platelets 72 days to get close to 100 (96). My team decided to slightly lower my high dose AriC (funny) from 3 to 2. They explained that there is nothing that shows the outcome will be less favorable with this dosage.
Now, at day 65, I have been waiting to go in for consolidation #3. Last week my counts were awesome. I had jumped up 54 points in two and half weeks to 92. my WBC was 5.2, HCT 30 and ANC at 3.9. The docs "toyed" with admitting me that day but decided to give it another week to see if my counts would climb a little more..........
Yesterday, I show up all packed and ready for my six day stay in chemo land feeling very well. That is until my labs came back. Platelets had dropped 4 points to 88 and ANC from 3.9 to 3.7. My body has done this before-made a big jump and then dropped a bit. I sat there wishing they had admitted me the previous week
After the disappointment of hearing my platelets had dropped, I get the "oh and your getting a BMB" WHAT????? Everyone on this board knows the effect that has on us. This will be my 6th since March. The procedure is not bad as I have my favorite PA (who looks 18) Dan Dan the bone marrow man, do all of mine. It is the now, the waiting.
After the procedure, one of my docs came in to assure me they do not believe they will find anything but that want to be extra, extra sure. That is a good thing and I know it is better to know all that we can. My last BMB was on June 6th and all was clear plus I've had a chemo treatment in the interim. She also discussed the potential of only doing 3 consolidation and/or lowering my dose again. Any change in the original plan worries me.
Thanks for letting me drown on. So sorry to be so needy, this just came out of the blue. I know God holds me in the palm of His hand and I trust Him to get me through this "speed bump" but encouragement from my daily strength family would truly help at this time.
Love and Blessing,
Julie
Blessings,
Julie
I am SO SO SO happy to read the update!!! What a relief!
Now that I re-live some moments through the posts, I can't believe what we all go through. The word roller-coaster does it injustice.
GOGO chemo#3!!!
:-)
I love good news
Lisa
x
Wonderful news! I certainly understand the fear, I know mine has to do with diagnosis. I remember asking the Onc if that BMB was the only one I would ever have, well you can imagine his response! I know God is in control and I am in his hands but the fear is still very real everytime BMB rolls around. So happy for you and the good news, no on with the fight!
Take Care,
Suzanne
I am thrilled for you! Fantastic news. Good luck with the next round of chemo. Hoping it is free of drama for you.
Peace,
Andrea
I am so happy for you, but I hope you have learned a lesson from this. DO NOT DWELL ON ONE OR TWO SETS OF NUMBERS. Bone marrow recovery is very fickle. Just when you think things are on a straight line, they deviate. The changes in the numbers that you reported were MINIMAL. Blood counts can vary greatly, even on the same person and drawn on the same day. Do not get yourself anxious over numbers. Your doctors would not deceive you or sugar-coat anything that they believed was bad. Trust them, trust that you are going to get better. PLEASE do that and you will get through this with much less distress. We are here for you,
Cliff
Shoshone
Peace and Blessing,
Julie
I am glad that your doctors are tailoring your treatments to your counts.
Shoshone65,
Anything less than 5% blasts is considered remission, so revel in that. You should just focus on the future, and that looks soooooooo good.
Cliff