Getting AML treatment starting Monday

[JenP]

I didn’t get admitted to the hospital today. However, I will be
admitted to Johns Hopkins on Monday and will be there for a MONTH.

The appt. went well. My dr. (Stephen Gore) is very optimistic. Apparently this type
of leukemia (T8-21) is the easiest to treat and has a 90% chance for a
full remission after my first rounds of chemo.

On Monday, I will have more blood work done, have a platelet infusion,
then have a Hickman catheter (sort of like a porta catheter, but it’s
on the outside of the skin near my collarbone-area, not inside the
skin). Then Monday afternoon I will start chemo for 3 days, 24 hours
a day. Then I am off of chemo for 4 days and then go back on for 3
more days with a different chemo drug. Then, I am in the hospital for
another 3 weeks to be closely monitored for fever, infection, etc. I
will lose my hair at the 3 week mark.

Then I go home for a month to let my blood counts come up. I then go
back in the hospital for another month to do the whole
chemo/monitoring thing again.

I am allowed to have visitors, including kids. I will have to meet
you in the visitors lounge or the cafeteria. No one is allowed on the
chemo floor except patients and medical staff.

That’s about it for now. I am going to be very busy this weekend
packing, cleaning, grocery shopping and spending quality time with my
husband and daughter.

Thanks for all your support and responses. They do more for my
spirit than you can imagine.

Jennifer

[sarah]

Jennifer, will keep you in our prayers. You hang in there!

[mommachkate]

Jennifer, I am very happy to read about the good prognosis. A lot more good wishes going your way. Kate

[Terri]

Jennifer wishing you the Best, Hope all goes well and Will wait for your return so you can tell us yu are in Remission.

[eve]

wishing you well

eve

[PamyRn]

Wow Jennifer you have quite the regigm set up for chemo. Makes me wonder if they didnt do enough for me when I went into AML. Mine was just 7 days and then out. Are you in AML? You gave it a name T8-21. I am totally unfamiliar with that. Do you think mine has a “type” or can there just be AML.?
I hope that this chemo set up will do the trick for you. You have been though so much already. What part of the breast cancer treatment is responsible for putting you into MDS/AML? Is it the chemo or radiation??
Pam

[Suzanne]

My guess is thaat the type designates where her AML came from. I have not heard that designation # either. I did find a list of 8 types of AML and as I mentioned before my Dr said they only apply to people who just have AML not when it was a progression from MDS. Pam I think the amount of chemo you had might have been different because you are expecting do a bone marrow Transplant. treatments seem to be different depending on your, diseasase, Physical condition and also somewhat between different doctors or institutions

[andrzej g.]

Suzanne – 8 types of AML you mentioned referred to the FAB classification regarding only morphology of the neoplastic clone. The newer WHO classification listed below is based not only on morphology of the cells but also on clinical, immunophentopic and cytogenetic features. T(8;21) means translocation – part of chromosome 8 is translocated to chromosome 21 and this particular aberration is connected with relatively good prognosis in that subtype of AML.

WHO Classification:
AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities
AML with t(8;21)(q22;q22); (AML1/ETO)
AML with abnormal bone marrow eosinophils inv(16)(p13q22) or t(16;16)(p13;q22); ( CBFß/MYH11)
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML with t(15;17)(q22;q12) ( PML/RAR-a) and variants
AML with 11q23 (mixed lineage leukemia) abnormalities
AML with multilineage dysplasia
After a myelodysplastic syndrome or myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative disorder
Without antecedent myelodysplastic syndrome
AML and myelodysplastic syndromes, therapy-related
Alkylating agent–related
Topoisomerase type II inhibitor–related (some may be lymphoid)
Other types
AML not otherwise categorized
AML minimally differentiated
AML without maturation
AML with maturation
Acute myelomonocytic leukemia
Acute monoblastic and monocytic leukemia
Acute erythroid leukemia
Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia
Acute basophilic leukemia
Acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis
Myeloid sarcoma
Acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage

[geebeebee]

Best of wishes, Jennifer. Keep us posted when you can.

Greg

[gemloyear]

HI JEn, your routine sounds pretty Strenuous.I know you need to take care of your family but YOU also need your rest.We will be thinking of you and praying for a full remission. Ellie

[gemloyear]

Andrzej.Thank you for your explanation of the varios categories of AML, it’s mind bolgling to me as a lay person, but it gives us a basis to reseach our own category.It’s very helpful to have your input.Best wishes for your father. Ellie

[Suzanne]

Glad somone else found it “mind boggling”. No wonder there are so many different reactions to drugs etc. Half of these I have never seen mentioned but it does make what my Dr told me make sense- that AML progressing from MDS is a classification of its own.Probably means we need to be careful comparing treatments and reactions. Thanks Andrzej. Do you have a medical background?

[Suzanne]

I looked at your profile and found that you are a Dr. No wonder you have access to all this information and explain it so well. It is good to have you as a member of the forum.!

[Donna]

Sending positive thoughts your way Jennifer!.

Great news!, you will beat this and be able to get on with life!

I’ll be thinking of you,

Donna

[JulieMarie]

Good luck! WE’ll be praying for you! Keep us updated when possible.

[Author]

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