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.
Hi friends
I am almost hitting the 2 years target in achieving and keeping remission. But, as usual..... Im scared with any new situation or sign in my body.
I had a blood test today, and, though normal, my white cell counts are going down from 2 months up to this day. They remain in normal amounts but the lowering tendency is scaring me and I will see my doctor till this afternoon. Sure he will laugh but I feel nervous and need to write.
My white cell counts were in 6,2 until june, when, during a dengue fever episode, they fall down quite low (1.5) and recoverd quickly once the virus of dengue was over. In August my white cell counts was 5,700 and today is 4.9 and as you can imagine I am scared. Everything else is completely normal.
I have been terribly stressed out this day due to my sisters health, she went to hospital, my 87years old father crying for her.... family counceling overwhelming, stressing, because of her situation, 2 hours-sessions with her doctor, OMG.....
Is it possible that stress has brough my white cells down? or do I have something to worry about?
Thanks friends !
I am almost hitting the 2 years target in achieving and keeping remission. But, as usual..... Im scared with any new situation or sign in my body.
I had a blood test today, and, though normal, my white cell counts are going down from 2 months up to this day. They remain in normal amounts but the lowering tendency is scaring me and I will see my doctor till this afternoon. Sure he will laugh but I feel nervous and need to write.
My white cell counts were in 6,2 until june, when, during a dengue fever episode, they fall down quite low (1.5) and recoverd quickly once the virus of dengue was over. In August my white cell counts was 5,700 and today is 4.9 and as you can imagine I am scared. Everything else is completely normal.
I have been terribly stressed out this day due to my sisters health, she went to hospital, my 87years old father crying for her.... family counceling overwhelming, stressing, because of her situation, 2 hours-sessions with her doctor, OMG.....
Is it possible that stress has brough my white cells down? or do I have something to worry about?
Thanks friends !
Be calm. You are fine. fear is natural. 4.9 is perfect. Calm Calm calm.
love
Ed
We all tend to be blood test junkies, always wanting to know how are our counts. But before we got sick I'll bet we all rarely had a blood test. So these counts might be completely normal and the same as you would get from a person who never had AML.
A very smart man who posted right above once told me if the doctor is not worried, that's good enough for him. If there's something to worry about the doctor will let you know.
Lou
I am still in consolidation so I have no advice for you. You remission of two years is one I cling to in hope. I can tell you of a good friend of mine who had a rare type of AML that was not in his marrow but in tumors throughout his abdomen five years ago. He was "gorked out" (his term) during induction for 57 days with several surgeries and fevers as high as you can go with out brain damage. He was too ill to have any consolidation. He recently had his five year "cured" consult with the med group where I am treated and guess what.....his platletes had dropped significantly. The drs are not alarmed-just checking him every six months. They are not worried so either is he. Much easier said than done. I will be praying for improved WBC for you!
Blessings,
Julie
I am trying to reorder my life now that I have no office-job, so Ive begin with my spiritual life, now time for phisical exercise, meditation and service. Of course, some other work but at my own pace.
Yes, helping others might be my salvation in order to keep my mind silent and in peace. Working with this cancer-support foundation in my country seems a great choice..... I will tell you later what they tell me.
Thanks again for your posts. Love you ALL guys.
Why can I say this? Because some of my numbers never did bounce back. Remember, I am going on four years of survival, and my onc who was the one who knew his stuff said that he has seen this before -- sometimes after chemo your numbers just don't come back. I suspect it is because the chemo might have clobbered some of your good stem cells, but that is just my theory.
Here are my numbers that are off:
Red Blood Cell 3.69 Normal 4.4-5.8
MCV and MCH are both about 20% high -- that measures the diameter of the RBC, which is all messed up because of my MDS
Platelet 116 Normal 150-400
They bounce around quite a bit but pretty much have stayed the same with respect to what is normal. So, this is normal for me, and as long as it stays relatively stable, no problem.
So, if there is anyone else out there who never really recovered from chemo, not to worry. Just thank God you are alive and do His will for you. What more could you ask? Take care -- dave
I hope you don't mind me responding, but I thought I might be able to give you some peace of mind. I've never had AML and my white counts are always on the move in one way or another! I get blood taken at least every 3 months - sometimes more. I can be 5.1 one month and then 3.2 the next, then I'll go to 4.8 the next time. The doctors will look at the whole picture, not just one of the cells. I am confident that all is well with you. Try not to worry :).