BC TX caused my AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) Anyone else?

HappyHammer

Hello BC sisters,

I was diagnosed with AML March 22, 2019 after routine lab work showed my numbers were in the gutter. Had a bone marrow biopsy that afternoon and was immediately referred to Baptist Hospital at Wake Forest in Winston Salem, NC. We live about 2 hours from WS and it came highly recommended- so there we are....diagnosed with t-AML and started testing and then treatment within a week. They believe that my AML was caused by the chemo/rads from BC treatment in 2015. Does not happen often but I am in the small percentage that got it. Special, right? Spent 6 weeks in the hospital there....2 rounds of chemo seemed to do the trick and I was/am in remission. Home since mid April with labs and outpatient treatment since then since I've been in remission. Yay for being home!!!

Treatment induced AML is aggressive and the recommended treatment once in remission is to have a bone marrow transplant. I had an additional round of chemo in mid June. Another bone marrow biopsy yesterday and many blood tests and other tests over the past several weeks to see if I can have the most aggressive transplant protocol. Looks like I can. (Happy/nervous/scared of the transplant and SE's of the treatment- it will change my life- hopefully save my life- but it doesn't come without very scary SE's short and long term.) Tentative date to be admitted and start the pre-transplant chemo is August 7 if all of the puzzle pieces come together. There are several 10 point donor matches (praise God) and we are waiting as they are being tested and then, they have to be available to do it, etc.

Looking to see if there are others here who have dealt with this. While I do not wish this on anyone- would love to connect with anyone who has gone through this and made it to remission/cure! The support here during my breast cancer dx and tx was phenomenal so just wanted to reach out here for BC sisters again. Not looking for sympathy- every day is a day of our lives and I am living each one as fully as possible! TIA for any help!

tigsun

I was told my treatment in 2000 is related to my being diagnosed this year with multiple myeloma another type of blood cancer. At first they thought I had Mets to my bone from my history of breast cancer but because of the time span from my oncologist felt it be something else and it was

HappyHammer

Tigsun- SO sorry to hear of your new diagnosis. Hoping you have some treatment options! I had a bone marrow transplant on Aug 14 and was discharged from hospital 2 days ago. It is a marathon but so far, so good. Hardest thing I have ever done but praying for cure.

tigsun

yes seems to be a lot a different protocols. I am on my first and it appears to be working so far. I have been on steroids since February and all of my problems are related to that but it working against the cancer so I am still on it. I take everyone one day at a time but I feel good and continue to live life with no other issues. You can’t even tell I am sick looking at my outsides while a war is raging inside. I hope all continues to go well with your treatment