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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): What can I expect?

Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Nov 12, 2023 | Replies (137)
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@kristenwhittle

My 92 year old mother was recently diagnosed with AML. She is undergoing chemo this week in the hospital. Decitibine IV x 5 days and Venetoclax orally X 7 days. Do you know of other elderly patients that have undergone treatment? And what can she expect for quality of life? So far she is tolerating it very well. She has finished day 3. She is "otherwise" a very strong and healthy 92 year old. She was still downhill skiing at 90.

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Replies to "My 92 year old mother was recently diagnosed with AML. She is undergoing chemo this week..."
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Sep 21, 2023

Wow, @kristenwhittle, Your mom is a force!! She’s in the hospital where she’ll be watched closely while undergoing the chemo treatments. I’m so happy to hear she’s giving this a go…because to do nothing would not have a positive outcome. AML, once started, progresses rapidly. So for your mom, this is an opportunity to get into remission!

You might find this discussion by @ccleschats encouraging with her accounting of her 75 year old husband with AML on the same meds as your mom.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acute-myeloid-leukemia-aml-treatment-of-75-year-old-is-working/
It’s early in the game yet for reactions, those tend to come in the next couple of weeks with fatigue, possible nausea and a little weakness.
These are normal side effects as the treatment works to destroy the quickly replicating cells called blasts. They’re the immature white blood cells which are overcrowding her red blood cells at this point. She will go through a very low period where all her blood counts are down. But they will regenerate and she should start feeling stronger after that. It’s important to avoid illness at this time. She may be given antibiotics as a precaution to avoid infections.

The Venetoclax is more of a targeted drug to keep the cancer cells from reproducing.

Your mom, with her health history and obvious spirit of endurance should do well with treatment. Encourage her to keep active if she can. I walked miles daily in the hospital bed tower while pushing my chemo IV with me. It worked to keep me healthy and energized.

Say hi to your mom for me. I’m so encouraged by her story! Keep me posted, ok?

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