APML cancer diagnosis (going well)

[Winter Dragon]

I know I haven't been here since ~2011 but I don't have many people to talk to about this topic.

What seemed like a bad nose bleed last Tuesday has been confirmed by my hospital as Acute Promyelocytic Leukamia. The good news is I have a 80-90% chance of beating it, but it all depends on the next month or two of treatmemts.

Still in shock, but trying to stay posotive.

[fiksal]

let's aim for 90%!

[Mailo]

My condolences on your diagnosis, but 80-90% is a very good chance, you'll beat this!
Stay strong and positive, listen to your doctors, eat healty food and do as much exercise as you can and the doctors recommend.
If I may suggest something, try to find someone you can talk to directly though, maybe even a professional. My wife was diagnosed with an agressive version of breast cancer back in 2020 (she beat it), and the grief and guilt stages of the process would have been tough without regular "grounding" in reality (no, this is not your fault, it is random, you did not do anything wrong!)

[Oldman]

Hi

Hang in there matey!
My thoughts are with you, and I hope your treatment is successful.

Oldman

[Winter Dragon]

Yeah, for sure!

I am happy to say things have started well. Bone marrow sample taken, PICC line successfully installed. and my body has responded well to the treatments so far.

I was told tonight that if all goes well, I may get to go home two or three weeks from now and do two weekly outpatient visits for the remaining treatments. So I'd like that 90%.

[mr.WHO]

Out of curiosity - what is the treatment and how did doctors estimated your case to have 90% chance?

[Winter Dragon]

Out of curiosity - what is the treatment and how did doctors estimated your case to have 90% chance?

I forgot to say, I live in New Zealand so thanks for reminding me to say that. Yeah, I am totally new to all of this and as a patient I have been trying to learn as much as I can.

The treatment being used where I live for this "M3 APL" variant involves Arsenic + high dosage Vitamin A. I was surprised to learn Arsenic is used for this but with the Vitamin A it seems a good combination.

I don't kmow about that 80-90% stat either, I've seen those numbers come up in a few times in conversations and a book they gave me. Not sure if that's cases treated in my region, within all of New Zealand or globally.

[mr.WHO]

The treatment being used where I live for this "M3 APL" variant involves Arsenic + high dosage Vitamin A. I was surprised to learn Arsenic is used for this but with the Vitamin A it seems a good combination.

That's interesting - I recall back 15-20 years ago Arsenic+Vitamins treatment was one of those scam wonder therapies that you could find all over the internet - it's a welcome suprise that somehow in the end, it became valid medical treatment.

[Scarecrow]

Here's hoping everything goes well and you work your way through the treatment.

Back in February I was diagnosed with colon cancer that had spread to some lymph nodes. A little surgery and 4 rounds of chemo later and it looks like it's gone.

I'm still not back up to "normal" physical shape but at 76 I'm not sure what "normal" is anymore.

[birdtable]

@ Scarecrow .. I am only a yougster at 75 .. normal for me is to come on Egosoft Forums have whinge about something/anything and feell better for it ,,, all you youngsters { under 60 } will feel the same eventually... A big to everyone on one of the best managed forums on the internet... Where would I be without the Egosoft experience ..Cheers all....Now where did that cheery response come from..

[Chips]

Good luck with the treatment, great chances so here's hoping.
Glad to hear you're recovering well too Scarecrow!

[jackeycheung]

OP, how's it going? Best of luck on my part.

Are you doing chemo? If yes, do you take Taxotere? Just wanted to let you know to be careful with it because, as it's stated on this law firm's site, it can cause vision loss and other visual impairments. Better watch out for this.

[Winter Dragon]

Sorry for the delay. I did mean to come back and say how things are going;

Medically, from blood results and things, I have been told all is going well and according to plan. I have almost finished my first Consolidation Cycle, and I've been told there's three more to go. Each cycle is eight weeks, so, about another six and a half months of treatment to finish. Then, I suppose we find out around April or May of 2025 how much cancer remains, or if it's all gone.

ps. Yes, I am on chemo during these Cycles. This type of cancer, APML, is treated using Arsenic Trioxide and Atra where I live, so I'm not familiar with the drug you named.

[felter]

I'm glad to hear it's all going well for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed for it to continue like that.

[fiksal]

I am glad as well, thanks for the update

[Winter Dragon]

I updated the thread title from "I just got diagnosed with cancer" to "APML cancer diagnosis (current status), for a couple of reasons:

1. The word, "just", no longer applied, as the diagnosis of my cancer was made many months ago. What we are discussing now in the month of October is a continuation of something that started since July 4th.
2. There are many types of cancer, and I did not say the type I am dealing with which I have now done. Apologies for not being clearer about that.

Hope that's a bit clearer.

[jackeycheung]

Hey, really sorry you’re going through this, but it’s awesome to hear your prognosis is strong. Stay positive since you’ve already got the most important weapon on your side.

Just a random thought: if you ever have any implanted devices during treatment (like ports or markers), keep a record of everything. I’ve read cases at Oberheiden P.C., a law firm that deals with defective medical devices, where patients had issues with things like implantable markers (BioZorb is one example). It’s rare, but it doesn’t hurt to be aware: https://federal-lawyer.com/injury-lawsuit/bioZorb/need-lawyer/

[Winter Dragon]

Actually, I think my cancer might be gone now.

Chemo finished late March, and I had a bone marrow biopsy done early April. They said it will take usually a month for the results to come back and it's now been five weeks. No news is good news I guess, but I will be waiting for written confirmation of the results before I celebrate. 90% sure this is over and done with but until those results officially say so, I have to temper my optimism a little.

[fiksal]

That is some good news still!

[Chips]

Actually, I think my cancer might be gone now.

Chemo finished late March, and I had a bone marrow biopsy done early April. They said it will take usually a month for the results to come back and it's now been five weeks. No news is good news I guess, but I will be waiting for written confirmation of the results before I celebrate. 90% sure this is over and done with but until those results officially say so, I have to temper my optimism a little.

Well, fingers crossed on your behalf until you hear