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.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Day 128 -- (Day +20)

Wednesday.  This is Amber.  We met her back in December when she was diagnosed with ALL not long after Riley's diagnosis.  Most of her treatments until now have been done in the clinic, so it was great to catch up.   It is wonderful to see another teenager on the floor.  I sat and chatted with the nurses and Riley had a new walking buddy for the night.  Awesome!  It really is so good for him to talk with someone who KNOWS what life is like with leukemia.  It is a whole different world.  These two are so positive, even talking about their treatments, they just have a great outlook on life!

Labs today:
White blood cells:  4.7  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 12  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 56  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  3149  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Officially off TPN

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