AML caused by Neupogen

Good morning, @trkelly, Oh golly your husband, and of course you, are going through the wringer on this cancer adventure. I’m sure it feels like you’ve both been clipped at the knees with this latest diagnose of AML after his colon cancer.
When we receive a diagnosis of cancer we often try to assign a cause as with the recently diagnosed AML. You’re wondering if the Neupogen given to your husband during his earlier treatment for colon cancer could be his reason for developing AML.
Neupogen is an important tool in an oncologist’s tool box for helping cancer patients going through chemotherapy treatments. Chemo targets quickly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. But it can also damage other rapidly dividing cells such as blood cells. I’m sure your husband experienced mid month, after a round of chemo, that his blood counts all dropped below normal. White blood cells are crucial for the immune system, and a weakened immune response can leave the body vulnerable to infections, (bacterial, viral or fungal) and less effective at detecting and fighting cancerous cells. That can be catastrophic…even a cold can turn dangerous at that time.

Neupogen is a medication which can help promote or jumpstart the production of white blood cells, helping the patient’s defense mechanism return to a more healthy state much faster. It is a very common medication given during the treatment of cancers and can be a life saver for many patients. I took it myself during my treatment for AML.

Whether or not it contributed in some way to your husband later developing AML you may never really know. Neupogen was an highly important medication at the time of your husband’s colon cancer treatment. The same goes for the chemotherapy and/or radiation used to destroy the cancer cells. Those are powerful tools in the arsenal against cancer. But by their very nature can leave the door open for secondary cancers, including AML.
What’s important is to keep in perspective that the goal at the time was to rid your husband’s body of cancer and Neupogen to help restore a level of protection with his immune system.

If you don’t mind sharing a little more, how long ago was your husband’s colon cancer and treatments? Has he started treatment for AML yet?