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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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@callyfreed

@loribmt It's me again, today my mom is starting her first day of AML induction chemotherapy. I would love for her to meet you, and have a companion of hope for her journey. I know you mentioned over the weekend, that you like to keep conversations about AML on the forum in order to allow others to learn along the way. I am wondering if you would be willing to send me and my mom to contact you for connection outside the forum? If so, I'm happy to receive emails or phone calls.

I screenshot your note to me from over the weekend, and read it out loud to her before she was admitted to Mayo Methodist Hospital, and your words provided hope for me and my family as we enter this chemo journey. Thank you for your kind words, and prompt support. Truly, you've made a difference.

Hope to chat again soon, if not in a personal correspondence, then here!

All the best,
-C

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Replies to "@loribmt It's me again, today my mom is starting her first day of AML induction chemotherapy...."
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Oct 19, 2023

Hi Cally, This is a big day for your mom on many levels. Her first day on a road to remission and recovery. Her first day of wondering what’s going to happen, what she’ll feel like, etc…lots of unknowns on this journey. I referred to it as an odyssey. Made it a lot less daunting…more of an adventure in some surreal 60s film. 😅

I remember my first day of induction. I actually took a quick snapshot of the first injection going into my port so that I could paint a picture of it for my journal. It was the Idarubicine…(part of the 7+3). My nurse had purple gloves, a blue hazmat gown and the liquid was red. Quite the picture. ☺️ But I welcomed the chemo. And honestly by day two, I was actually starting to feel better because it was killing the cancer cells! My fever went away and for a couple of weeks I felt pretty well.

However, this will make your mom tired, she may lose her hair…I pre-empted mine with a buzz cut. She may be nauseated. She will most likely lose her taste buds which will interfere with ‘food feel…texture and taste’.
Fatigue will be her friend for a few weeks but it gets better! Her numbers will bounce back and so will she! I know this is painting a sad picture. Well, we cancer patients look like the walking wounded for a few months but then we heal, blossom and feel pretty invincible. Your mom will too! She’ll show you what she’s made of for sure! ☺️

I’m happy to chat here because what we talk about can help so many others. It’s all anonymous and I promise to be open and honest. Let me know how she does, ok? Was she given anti-nausea meds?

Also, I’m sending you a PM.

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