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.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Day + 29

Friday.  Another clinic visit this week.  Today Riley needed an infusion of pentamidine.  It prevents a certain kind of pneumonia.  You can't really tell from the picture, but Riley is accessed in his port and hooked up to the IV pole.  This infusion makes you feel really yucky.  Riley is brave and strong. 
I saw this sticker on a fridge in the clinic.   nuff said.
Labs today:
White blood cells:  3.7  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  10.9  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 66  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  2224  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)
 
 

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