With my type of Leukemia induction chemotherapy is done to destroy all of the cancer cells. This also destroys the healthy cells in your body. This is why it takes a few weeks for your body to recover after chemo. The initial chemo did it’s job and I am completely cancer free at this point. My doctors were amazed at how well I responded, considering how sick I was coming in. They were also unable to give me the full dose they would normally give because my kidneys and all other organs wouldn’t have been able to handle it at the time. Chemotherapy alone does not cure AML. I will need a Stem Cell Transplant. Without it my cancer could and most likely will come back at anytime. A typical stem cell transplant begins with very high doses of chemo along with radiation to destroy all the cancer cells. This treatment also kills the stem cells in the bone marrow. Stem cells from a donor are given to replace those that were destroyed. The stem cells are given through a port inserted into the chest, much like a blood transfusion. Over time they settle in the bone marrow and begin to grow and make healthy blood cells.
My brother and twin sister were both tested to see if they were a possible match to be my donor. My brother wasn’t, my sister was! But it wasn’t that easy. The doctors needed to know if we were identical or fraternal. Our Mom had never gotten the DNA test done when we were born. Although we look identical, she assumed we were fraternal because we were born with 2 separate amniotic sacs and placentas. Turns out we are identical! My sister cannot be my donor because the DNA is too similar and it won’t be as affective. The DNA needs to be just a little bit different for a successful transplant. What a bummer. This was hard on me but I think it was even harder on Kelsey. She just wanted it to be her. She wants to help me in anyway she can. Little does she know she has already helped me so much.
Since I don’t have a sibling match they had to find me a donor from the National Registry. Within a few weeks they had a match! The process takes a while so it will be another 4-6 weeks before I have my transplant. So hopefully in May I’ll be back in the hospital for another 5 weeks or so. It will take quite some time to recover from the transplant. I can’t wait until I’m able to go back to work and enjoy my life that I miss so much.
One Day At A Time 