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.
Dear all,
Ok, now that it seems like transplant season here, I am added too. Starting chemo today and scheduled for transplant on September 4th.
After some ups and downs with potential donors, my donor is 9/10, 28 year old male.
I'll be getting 4 days of chemo (2 drugs, I need to look for their names...) and 3 days of ATG immunosuppressant (1 day overlapping). Did anyone have ATG? I hear it's no fun....
It's very scary, especially to be feeling well and healthy but knowing it's just an illusion and that the transplant is needed. And also knowing that how I currently feel will very soon be replaced by feeling quite bad. AND how unpredictable it all is (I know the future is unpredictable for everyone, it's just that we have this hyper-awareness to this fact).
Overall I am well, with good energy and able to do some work, which is the best distraction.
Wishing all of my fellow end-of-summer-early-spring transplant buddies lots of luck and health. It's great to have you all here as support.
Abby
Ok, now that it seems like transplant season here, I am added too. Starting chemo today and scheduled for transplant on September 4th.
After some ups and downs with potential donors, my donor is 9/10, 28 year old male.
I'll be getting 4 days of chemo (2 drugs, I need to look for their names...) and 3 days of ATG immunosuppressant (1 day overlapping). Did anyone have ATG? I hear it's no fun....
It's very scary, especially to be feeling well and healthy but knowing it's just an illusion and that the transplant is needed. And also knowing that how I currently feel will very soon be replaced by feeling quite bad. AND how unpredictable it all is (I know the future is unpredictable for everyone, it's just that we have this hyper-awareness to this fact).
Overall I am well, with good energy and able to do some work, which is the best distraction.
Wishing all of my fellow end-of-summer-early-spring transplant buddies lots of luck and health. It's great to have you all here as support.
Abby
DaveJ
Glad thngs are moving forward for you. Jeremy had 4 days of chemo and 3 days of ATG. He said the chemo was no worse then induction and the first day of ATG they gave him benedryl every 4 hours so he pretty much slept the day away. No other issues with the ATG.
Last night he got his stem cells and again they gave him benedryl so he slept through the process but this morning he woke up asking for his birthday presents so he is doing good.
Our transplant team would not give us any info on the donor except to say that the cells were very healthy and it was a great collection.
You will do great and will continue to be in my prayers.
Karen
Just wanted to wish you all the best with the transplant.I will be thinking of you and everyone else who is fighting this battle.
Thanks
Lisa
I am wishing you all the best with the process. Soon you will be able to put all the bad behind you.
Abby,
Do not worry about ATG. I got it as well and it was a total non-event. You will slide right through it. Remember, good health is on the way.
Cliff
So grateful for the update and that you are on your way to a cure from AML. I continue to pray for you and your family daily.
Blessings
Julie
Day 1 of chemo went ok, the chemo drugs are Fludarabine and Busulfex. Did anyone get these two?
Karen and Cliff, thanks for the comments on ATG. I am glad to hear it's not as bad as some told me. Phew!
Dave - thank you for your comment about patience. It's one of the hardest and probably the most important thing. Knowing this is all temporary and to remember the goal of this process.
DaveJ, Lisa and Julie, thank you!
Abby
Those are the same chemo drugs that Jeremy received and same they were not as bad as induction.
Karen
Those are the drugs that I will be getting too. I was scheduled for OCt 1 but my first donor fell through so I'm back to the waiting game. I was told ATG just possibly gives flu like symptoms.
I'll be following your progress daily and praying for you nightly. I'm glad to hear you are feeling good so far. I hope that the "worst part" is not as bad as you imagine.
Lora B
Great to hear I'm not alone with this protocol :-)
Lora - my original donor fell through as well. I didn't take the news so well as she was 10/10 (the only one) but gladly they were able to find this 9/10 really fast. I hope they find your new donor fast, I know the waiting game is no fun...
I'm done with day 2 of chemo. So far, not bad.
Abby
davej
Glad you are doing well. Like everyone else has said, the conditioning for transplant is not as bad as the induction. This seems to be a unanimous observation. Just keep moving along the path. The light at the end of the tunnel comes quickly.
.
Cliff
We felt the same heading into transplant, he was super energetic and otherwise so healthy heading into a treatment that is so severe on the body, it just seemed wrong, but we knew under the surface this is what was needed to say good bye to the horrid disease once and for all
Prayers for a very uneventful :) transplant week!
Lora