AML 101

Hi all!

So I'm sitting in my Charlotte hotel room and I thought I'd take a second to teach you all a little more about Grandpa's type of cancer, so you can know a little bit more about one of the diseases your support helps to FIGHT. His cancer is called acute myeloblastic leukemia, which is commonly abbreviated AML, and it's the most common type of acute leukemia in adults (acute meaning it needs immediate attention, as opposed to chronic which would require a different treatment plan). Leukemia in general refers to cancer of the blood or bone marrow

Normally, bone marrow produces stem cells that will mature into healthy cells. The 3 types are red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which fight infection/disease), and platelets (which allow for clotting). In my Grandpa, his bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts, which are basically like immature white blood cells that don't mature into healthy white blood cells. These cells can't do their normal work and they build up in the bone marrow/blood stream, so there is less room for the healthy cells.

As you know, the treatment they're pursuing for Grandpa is chemo-light, which will hopefully attack those myeloblasts and get them to stop producing. Under the watchful eye of Dr. Stone (who was just named one of the top AML specialists by his peers) hopefully that's exactly what will happen.

Grandpa has some trouble with his kidneys, which is what keeps him from being eligible for clinical trials. They don't do kidney transplants in blood cancer patients because there is a high rate of rejection. They also don't do bone marrow transplants in patients over 70 as a general rule. They don't pursue full blown chemotherapy in older patients because of the toll it takes on the body; it compromises the immune system far too much and the infections and other complications could be more detrimental to their health than the cancer itself.

So, there you go! Your own little crash course in AML and treatment options :) Keep praying for that cure, and please support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society if you can.

Much love!
Rachel