Hi Vickie, My treatment for AML was Cytarabine along with Idarubicine. It is a combination of drugs given to kill off cancer cells and was highly effective. Your treatment with Cytarabine and Cladribine is meant to do similarly. The Cladribine interfers with the growth of cancer cells and eventually kills them off. I would think the goal of this protocol is to throw some heavier meds at your cancer cells/blasts to bring you into remission. From my understanding, the Venetoclax would then be a maintenance med to keep you in remission until the bone marrow transplant. The cleaner we go into transplant the more favorable for a positive outcome.

From my experience, with the stronger chemo, it will knock down your total blood counts over the course days. As you’re already experiencing, the need for caution to avoid infection is high. While you’re in the hosptial your team there will monitor you for fever or any signs of infection. That’s why you’re in for 10 days.

When you achieve remission, as soon as your blood counts show improvement/recovery, your transplant team would most likely suggest moving ahead with the transplant.
Wishing you great success with this treatment! It worked for me with my 85% blast situation. Better living through chemistry. 😅

Hi @marlysmae I just wanted to pop in to see how you’re doing with the AML treatments. I know they can be pretty hard on the body but they also have a good track record for killing off the cancer cells. Are there positive improvements in your blood numbers? What’s your treatment plan going forward?

I use ventoclax 7 days at 400 mg with vidaza 3 days seems to be my sweet spot.