Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In AML, the bone marrow makes many unformed cells called blasts. Blasts normally develop into white blood cells that fight infection. However, the blasts are abnormal in AML. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The bone marrow may also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Day 31

Thursday.  This afternoon we found out that Riley still has leukemia cells in his marrow.  When Riley was diagnosed he had 30% cancer cells.  This biopsy still showed 15-20 %.  NOT what we wanted or expected to hear.  The doctors were surprised because they say 70-80% of the time the patient is put into "remission" (not see leukemia cells in biopsy) after the first round of treatment.  They had talked about Riley maybe going home for a day or so before he started the second round, but now they will start chemo in the morning.  We were surprised and knocked down by this news.  Riley still so strong.  Determined.

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.6 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.6 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 65 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 24 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)