scaredduck02
01-06-2003, 09:51 AM
im 18 years old and i just found out that i have lukemia i havent told any of my friends because im scared of what they'll think how do i tell them i also want to know is this going to kill me
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chitrick
01-06-2003, 10:18 AM
What type of leukemia have you been told that you have? What stage is it in? What has your doctor told you about your treatment? I think that now days, there are many more survivors of leukemia, than there are people who lose their lives as a result. My wife has cronic lymphocytic leukemia. She's never told anybody about having it (friends or family). I had slipped when she was first diagnosed; and told some friends. My wife got very uspet about that. Her's has not yet (and may never) progressed to the fatal stage. But if it ever does, I'm sure we'd then inform those closest to us.
scaredduck02
01-06-2003, 03:02 PM
i have acute myelogenous leukemia it sucks because i am most worried about my boyfriend finding out or my hair falling out from chemo
chitrick
01-06-2003, 04:33 PM
I'm sure your doctor has explained the seriousness of your illness. What has he told you to expect? As far as your boyfriend goes...if I were you, I'd fill him in on everything. At 18, I'd imagine you and he are mature enough to handle this thing together. He would be very upset if he either found out accidently or from somebody else. I don't think this is the sort of secret that you can successfully (or should even try to) keep from your boyfriend.
cs22js26
01-14-2003, 01:48 AM
Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they think. I have had an elevated wbc for the past 7 years. Last year my doctor sent me to a oncology doctor to run some tests. This was last April that I first went to see the oncologist on the first visit he did a ton of blood tests and did a blood smear on my cells. He said he didn't see any abnormalities well then I was happy and not too nervous anymore but he said he still wanted me to come back to do blood work for a while. He does a CBC w/diff. So I have been going back like every two months to get the blood work done and the wbc is always elevated. These are the wbc's 7/97-12.33, 9/97-10.44, 9/01-12.72, 3/02-13.13, 4/02-13.50, 8/02-16.8, 8/12/02-17.6, 8/16/02-14.9, 10/02-14.7, 11/02-21.4 and 1/03-16.4. I was really concerned when he gave me the results in August but he still said he wasn't too concerned and he was looking at other parts of the test and they were normal. Then on 11/2 I freaked out with the 21.4 and went back just last week and it went down to 16.4. My doctor said at all my appointments he didn't recommend a bone marrow biopsy at this time but he would do it to ease my mind. So on my last appointment he recommended that I get it done because he said he can tell that this is really stressing me out. I am just so scard that I have lukemia my doctor said he doesn't think so but why is my wbc never normal. Well I asked my doctor that and he said well maybe that is just you and you fall out of the statistic range. I don't feel sick, no bruises or anything like that. He does an exam on me everytime I go and he doesn't find anything either. He checks my spleen and he said that is fine too. Does this sound like lukemia with my wbc always being elevated even though it goes up and down? The wbc that is elevated is called the poly's or neutrophils I think they are the same thing. Could this just be normal for me? Is it normal for a healthy person to have an elevated wbc? My doctor doesn't act concerned at all. He can't diagnose me with anything cause he said he doesn't know why it's elevated but by doing the bone marrow I guess he can rule out cancer but without the bone marrow I don't think he can rule that out is that true? I am getting the bone marrow biopsy done in 2 weeks he said it should take about a week to get the results. I am going to be so scard waiting. I know if I do have lukemia that it must be one of the Chronic one's since my wbc doesn't go up very fast and I don't feel sick. Can you die from Chronic Lukemias? Is there a cure? Thanks for taking the time to read my post I am just really scard and need some advice.
Thanks
Crystal
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they think. I have had an elevated wbc for the past 7 years. Last year my doctor sent me to a oncology doctor to run some tests. This was last April that I first went to see the oncologist on the first visit he did a ton of blood tests and did a blood smear on my cells. He said he didn't see any abnormalities well then I was happy and not too nervous anymore but he said he still wanted me to come back to do blood work for a while. He does a CBC w/diff. So I have been going back like every two months to get the blood work done and the wbc is always elevated. These are the wbc's 7/97-12.33, 9/97-10.44, 9/01-12.72, 3/02-13.13, 4/02-13.50, 8/02-16.8, 8/12/02-17.6, 8/16/02-14.9, 10/02-14.7, 11/02-21.4 and 1/03-16.4. I was really concerned when he gave me the results in August but he still said he wasn't too concerned and he was looking at other parts of the test and they were normal. Then on 11/2 I freaked out with the 21.4 and went back just last week and it went down to 16.4. My doctor said at all my appointments he didn't recommend a bone marrow biopsy at this time but he would do it to ease my mind. So on my last appointment he recommended that I get it done because he said he can tell that this is really stressing me out. I am just so scard that I have lukemia my doctor said he doesn't think so but why is my wbc never normal. Well I asked my doctor that and he said well maybe that is just you and you fall out of the statistic range. I don't feel sick, no bruises or anything like that. He does an exam on me everytime I go and he doesn't find anything either. He checks my spleen and he said that is fine too. Does this sound like lukemia with my wbc always being elevated even though it goes up and down? The wbc that is elevated is called the poly's or neutrophils I think they are the same thing. Could this just be normal for me? Is it normal for a healthy person to have an elevated wbc? My doctor doesn't act concerned at all. He can't diagnose me with anything cause he said he doesn't know why it's elevated but by doing the bone marrow I guess he can rule out cancer but without the bone marrow I don't think he can rule that out is that true? I am getting the bone marrow biopsy done in 2 weeks he said it should take about a week to get the results. I am going to be so scard waiting. I know if I do have lukemia that it must be one of the Chronic one's since my wbc doesn't go up very fast and I don't feel sick. Can you die from Chronic Lukemias? Is there a cure? Thanks for taking the time to read my post I am just really scard and need some advice.
Thanks
Crystal
Darrens girl
02-15-2003, 06:09 AM
My brother just beat leukimia...that means theres hope for you.Good luck and stay strong.
amlgirl2
02-21-2003, 06:44 PM
Hi, so sorry to hear you're starting this journey through this horrible disease. It's a hard journey, but it is possible to beat and survive AML. It's really not possible to hide from friends or family...and trust me, it's best they know. My biggest fear was my friends abandoning me, but they stuck by me all the way. Here's my story and stuff...if it helps any :/:
I was diagnosed with AML M2 when I was 15 in Sepetmber 2001 after 2 months of not feeling well. The symtpoms had started in July with bruising and fatigue, but as I was in hockey camp at the time, I put it to that. August I basically went downhill, battling strep throat twice, worsening bruising, and fatigue, though I put the bruising to clumsiness and the fatigue to some slow virus.
September, after 3 days of school, I developed aches in my joints, slightly swollen lymph nodes, and a low grade fever, as well as a sore throat. My gums started bleeding when I brushed my teeth The doctor felt I had mono and took a blood test. It showed abnormal blood counts: moderate anemia, a 2X higher than normal WBC at 20,000, and abnormally low platlets. A bone marrow aspiration at the Children's hospital several days later confirmed the intial suspicion of acute leukmemia, though the type came as a surprise. We were given a 40-50% chance of survival and cure with chemo.
I went through 7 months of chemo, two rounds of induction, CNS propalyxis, and overall 5 months of consolidation. I achived a remission in October 2001. My family were tested for potential bone marrow matches; my twin sister was found to be a 5/6 match, my brother a perfect 6/6 match.
After much thinking, I decided in February 2002 to have a bone marrow transplant in May 2002 following chemo completion in April 2002. My odds went up to 70% with it.
Transplant was May 28th, 2002. The recovery from both chemo and the transplant was difficult and challenging, but I've had no complications like rejection or GVHD from it. I'm 100% recovered now more or less, showing no signs of any organ damage and not sterile from the chemo I had. I had no radiation done throughout any of my treatment, we decided to save that option for just in case.
My life has more or less returned to normal. I have a check up every month, with a monthly blood test, a spinal tap every 8 weeks, and bone marrow aspiartion every 12 weeks. I'm back in school fulltime, off all medicaions except one to prevent pneumonia, which I come off of in May, have a parttime job as a cashier, and play on the school rugby team. There is life after AML.
I was diagnosed with AML M2 when I was 15 in Sepetmber 2001 after 2 months of not feeling well. The symtpoms had started in July with bruising and fatigue, but as I was in hockey camp at the time, I put it to that. August I basically went downhill, battling strep throat twice, worsening bruising, and fatigue, though I put the bruising to clumsiness and the fatigue to some slow virus.
September, after 3 days of school, I developed aches in my joints, slightly swollen lymph nodes, and a low grade fever, as well as a sore throat. My gums started bleeding when I brushed my teeth The doctor felt I had mono and took a blood test. It showed abnormal blood counts: moderate anemia, a 2X higher than normal WBC at 20,000, and abnormally low platlets. A bone marrow aspiration at the Children's hospital several days later confirmed the intial suspicion of acute leukmemia, though the type came as a surprise. We were given a 40-50% chance of survival and cure with chemo.
I went through 7 months of chemo, two rounds of induction, CNS propalyxis, and overall 5 months of consolidation. I achived a remission in October 2001. My family were tested for potential bone marrow matches; my twin sister was found to be a 5/6 match, my brother a perfect 6/6 match.
After much thinking, I decided in February 2002 to have a bone marrow transplant in May 2002 following chemo completion in April 2002. My odds went up to 70% with it.
Transplant was May 28th, 2002. The recovery from both chemo and the transplant was difficult and challenging, but I've had no complications like rejection or GVHD from it. I'm 100% recovered now more or less, showing no signs of any organ damage and not sterile from the chemo I had. I had no radiation done throughout any of my treatment, we decided to save that option for just in case.
My life has more or less returned to normal. I have a check up every month, with a monthly blood test, a spinal tap every 8 weeks, and bone marrow aspiartion every 12 weeks. I'm back in school fulltime, off all medicaions except one to prevent pneumonia, which I come off of in May, have a parttime job as a cashier, and play on the school rugby team. There is life after AML.
amlgirl2
02-21-2003, 06:44 PM
Hi, so sorry to hear you're starting this journey through this horrible disease. It's a hard journey, but it is possible to beat and survive AML. It's really not possible to hide from friends or family...and trust me, it's best they know. My biggest fear was my friends abandoning me, but they stuck by me all the way. Here's my story and stuff...if it helps any :/:
I was diagnosed with AML M2 when I was 15 in Sepetmber 2001 after 2 months of not feeling well. The symtpoms had started in July with bruising and fatigue, but as I was in hockey camp at the time, I put it to that. August I basically went downhill, battling strep throat twice, worsening bruising, and fatigue, though I put the bruising to clumsiness and the fatigue to some slow virus.
September, after 3 days of school, I developed aches in my joints, slightly swollen lymph nodes, and a low grade fever, as well as a sore throat. My gums started bleeding when I brushed my teeth The doctor felt I had mono and took a blood test. It showed abnormal blood counts: moderate anemia, a 2X higher than normal WBC at 20,000, and abnormally low platlets. A bone marrow aspiration at the Children's hospital several days later confirmed the intial suspicion of acute leukmemia, though the type came as a surprise. We were given a 40-50% chance of survival and cure with chemo.
I went through 7 months of chemo, two rounds of induction, CNS propalyxis, and overall 5 months of consolidation. I achived a remission in October 2001. My family were tested for potential bone marrow matches; my twin sister was found to be a 5/6 match, my brother a perfect 6/6 match.
After much thinking, I decided in February 2002 to have a bone marrow transplant in May 2002 following chemo completion in April 2002. My odds went up to 70% with it.
Transplant was May 28th, 2002. The recovery from both chemo and the transplant was difficult and challenging, but I've had no complications like rejection or GVHD from it. I'm 100% recovered now more or less, showing no signs of any organ damage and not sterile from the chemo I had. I had no radiation done throughout any of my treatment, we decided to save that option for just in case.
My life has more or less returned to normal. I have a check up every month, with a monthly blood test, a spinal tap every 8 weeks, and bone marrow aspiartion every 12 weeks. I'm back in school fulltime, off all medicaions except one to prevent pneumonia, which I come off of in May, have a parttime job as a cashier, and play on the school rugby team. There is life after AML.
I was diagnosed with AML M2 when I was 15 in Sepetmber 2001 after 2 months of not feeling well. The symtpoms had started in July with bruising and fatigue, but as I was in hockey camp at the time, I put it to that. August I basically went downhill, battling strep throat twice, worsening bruising, and fatigue, though I put the bruising to clumsiness and the fatigue to some slow virus.
September, after 3 days of school, I developed aches in my joints, slightly swollen lymph nodes, and a low grade fever, as well as a sore throat. My gums started bleeding when I brushed my teeth The doctor felt I had mono and took a blood test. It showed abnormal blood counts: moderate anemia, a 2X higher than normal WBC at 20,000, and abnormally low platlets. A bone marrow aspiration at the Children's hospital several days later confirmed the intial suspicion of acute leukmemia, though the type came as a surprise. We were given a 40-50% chance of survival and cure with chemo.
I went through 7 months of chemo, two rounds of induction, CNS propalyxis, and overall 5 months of consolidation. I achived a remission in October 2001. My family were tested for potential bone marrow matches; my twin sister was found to be a 5/6 match, my brother a perfect 6/6 match.
After much thinking, I decided in February 2002 to have a bone marrow transplant in May 2002 following chemo completion in April 2002. My odds went up to 70% with it.
Transplant was May 28th, 2002. The recovery from both chemo and the transplant was difficult and challenging, but I've had no complications like rejection or GVHD from it. I'm 100% recovered now more or less, showing no signs of any organ damage and not sterile from the chemo I had. I had no radiation done throughout any of my treatment, we decided to save that option for just in case.
My life has more or less returned to normal. I have a check up every month, with a monthly blood test, a spinal tap every 8 weeks, and bone marrow aspiartion every 12 weeks. I'm back in school fulltime, off all medicaions except one to prevent pneumonia, which I come off of in May, have a parttime job as a cashier, and play on the school rugby team. There is life after AML.
LIBLONDIE45
03-03-2004, 08:23 PM
AMLGirl2, please give us an update on your condition. ty
amlgirl2
03-11-2004, 01:33 AM
AMLGirl2, please give us an update on your condition. ty
Hi. Surprised people are asking about me, but here it goes!
Doing well for the most part. Spinal tap, bone marrow aspiration, and bloodwork in February show I am still in remission, 100% donor cells. Feeling good. I have my bad days where I am more fatigued than I ever used to be, but most days I am okay. This winter in particular has gone better than last winter, as far as recovery time is for illnesses. I still get sick more easily than other people, but the doctors say that at 21 months post BMT, this is normal because the immune system, even at normal function, it like that of a young child's, normal but lacking the immunity. I haven't been hospialized since my bout with pneumonia in January 2003, though I did contract bronchitis in November/December and strep throat in January.
How is everyone else doing?
Hi. Surprised people are asking about me, but here it goes!
Doing well for the most part. Spinal tap, bone marrow aspiration, and bloodwork in February show I am still in remission, 100% donor cells. Feeling good. I have my bad days where I am more fatigued than I ever used to be, but most days I am okay. This winter in particular has gone better than last winter, as far as recovery time is for illnesses. I still get sick more easily than other people, but the doctors say that at 21 months post BMT, this is normal because the immune system, even at normal function, it like that of a young child's, normal but lacking the immunity. I haven't been hospialized since my bout with pneumonia in January 2003, though I did contract bronchitis in November/December and strep throat in January.
How is everyone else doing?
LIBLONDIE45
03-11-2004, 07:18 AM
Hi. Surprised people are asking about me, but here it goes!
Doing well for the most part. Spinal tap, bone marrow aspiration, and bloodwork in February show I am still in remission, 100% donor cells. Feeling good. I have my bad days where I am more fatigued than I ever used to be, but most days I am okay. This winter in particular has gone better than last winter, as far as recovery time is for illnesses. I still get sick more easily than other people, but the doctors say that at 21 months post BMT, this is normal because the immune system, even at normal function, it like that of a young child's, normal but lacking the immunity. I haven't been hospialized since my bout with pneumonia in January 2003, though I did contract bronchitis in November/December and strep throat in January.
How is everyone else doing?
Thank you for your update AMLgirl2. Sounds like you're hanging in there despite the strep throat over the winter and that pneumonia. Congrats on the 21 months post BMT. Stay strong, think positive. We wish you continued health and remission.
Doing well for the most part. Spinal tap, bone marrow aspiration, and bloodwork in February show I am still in remission, 100% donor cells. Feeling good. I have my bad days where I am more fatigued than I ever used to be, but most days I am okay. This winter in particular has gone better than last winter, as far as recovery time is for illnesses. I still get sick more easily than other people, but the doctors say that at 21 months post BMT, this is normal because the immune system, even at normal function, it like that of a young child's, normal but lacking the immunity. I haven't been hospialized since my bout with pneumonia in January 2003, though I did contract bronchitis in November/December and strep throat in January.
How is everyone else doing?
Thank you for your update AMLgirl2. Sounds like you're hanging in there despite the strep throat over the winter and that pneumonia. Congrats on the 21 months post BMT. Stay strong, think positive. We wish you continued health and remission.
heatherdarbs
03-27-2004, 02:05 AM
I had a high white blood cell count before and it was just because I had a sinus infection. My doctor told me that any time the white cell count is high, there is some kind of infection. So this doesn't necessarily mean you have leukemia. From what I've read, you would definately know something was up, because you'd feel very sick.