Good morning, @bettersleep68. Well golly, nothing like a medical adventure to start out the new year. Six years ago I began 2019 the very same way with a diagnosis of AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
It’s ok to be scared but don’t let it consume you. There are treatments for this form of leukemia. I won’t lie, some of them are a little harsh. But the drugs do the job and can give hope for a healthy future.

Acute myeloid leukemia is treated based on the acquired mutations associated with the diagnosis. There are some mutations which can make the disease more aggressive or difficult to treat and the treatment has to be equally as aggressive. With less aggressive mutations there are other treatments. Factors such as age and co-morbidities can influence the treatments as well. Your doctor will make the determination by taking blood work and a bone marrow biopsy. The results of these tests will show the extent of the disease, the health of your bone marrow and check for mutations, along with other information gathered.

So let’s tackle this together head on! There will be a lot of information coming at you from your doctor and it can feel overwhelming with all the terms and new vocabulary words you’ll be hearing. I can help you with some clarification, along with other members in Connect who have or had AML. You’re not alone here. ☺️

If you haven’t already, a consultation with your hematologist/oncologist will be coming up. You’ll most likely have a ton of questions you’ll want to ask such as:
Will I need more tests? Which ones?
Will I need treatment?
What are my treatment options?
What are the potential side effects of each treatment?
Is there one treatment you believe is best for me?
I have these other health conditions. How will they affect my treatment and disease?
How will treatment affect my daily life? Can I keep working?
How long will treatment last?
Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
Should I seek a second opinion?

So take a little notebook along with you. And also if you have a partner or friend it can be helpful to have another set of ears!
Has your hematologist/oncologist discussed treatment options with you? Have you had a bone marrow biopsy yet? Any mention of mutations?