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.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Day 113 -- (Day +5)

Tuesday.  This is the long cold hallway to get to the cafeteria in the main UMC hospital.  In the day this hallway is full of doctors, nurses, patients and visitors busily going about their day.   But at night, it is a very different place!  EMPTY.  Almost spooky.  Lately I have been busy around dinner time and Riley isn't eating anyway, so about 10pm I realize... "I'm hungry".  The cafeteria makes a mean breakfast burrito and they start serving breakfast items after 9 at night.  Tonight walking this quiet hallway, I realized again what a weird existence we are living in. 

Labs today:  
White blood cells:  < .1   (cannot be measured)  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 9.6  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  31 (normal 150 - 425)   (1 unit transfused)
ANC: 0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

*fevers today
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