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.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Day 124 -- (Day +16)

Saturday.   Sleep, sleep and more sleep.  Had to drag that boy out for his walk tonight.  He did it, of course... but in silence.  Maybe half awake.  It is hard work building an immune system.  :)  He is starting to try to eat.  Kinda tough.  Nothing tastes good (or as it should).  His taste buds are wiped out and he has been using a special mouth wash to help him regain saliva.  Platelets dropped some today.  Just praying he won't need too many platelet transfusions while his counts are still coming in.  They say platelets are usually the last to get back.  :/

Labs today:
White blood cells:  2.7  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  12.2  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  36  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  2106  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

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