Sorry for my tardiness, I have been asleep for the past two days, or so it seemed. Just woke up this morning and am feeling the best I have felt since returning to 4 North A. I have a flu and lots of “stuff” in my lungs but the Dr.’s seem to think that I will get rid of it before it becomes a BIG problem, but just for good measure I plan to speed up the process today. The first half of our 8 week delayed test results show that my Leukemia is M4, not M4-E, which is no major benefit or drawback. The Bone Marrow Transplant option is still as much of an option as ever and my parents and I will begin the research process in the near future. Once my blood levels come back a second time we will travel to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, which is where most of the transplants are done. I have been told that this decision, like most every decision, is all mine and that there are many schools of thought in relation to Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT), there is no fixed treatment schedule. As I have said I will absolutely have another round of chemo, it may be the third round from the study or it may be Pre-Transplant chemo, but there will be another round. I have not been given an official prognosis, outside of “average”, there is nothing dramatically good or bad with my tests. Very early in my first hospital stay I was told that general success numbers for Leukemia are about 30% with just chemo and around 70% with chemo and a BMT. As far as I can tell these are just general rough numbers that relate to all types of Leukemia in all types of patients. I don’t know where M4 stands in the big picture as far as cure rates, but I have been consistently reminded that my age is a big benefit!
I’m sure the next 4 weeks will bring a ton of info regarding the Transplant procedure and I will forward it as I get it. Everything else is going well and I will be in touch soon.
Geoff
#4
