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pocoh823
pocoh823 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Leukemia #1
Hello I am a 30yr old female that has or had AML. For some reason it amazingly seems easier going through the treatment than how life seems after. If anyone could understand that.
Would like to know if anyone could help me with advice and tell me how long it actually takes to get strength back after chemo treatment....

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  • dickl
    dickl Member Posts: 39
    #2
    My son had a transplant for AML 8 years ago at age 8. My wife and I often said the treatment period in the hospital seemed easier in many ways. All of our medical and personal needs were looked after by the wonderful staff at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital. The years after have more difficult.My son is cured but has many neurological problems from treatment and infections that got into his brain during the long period of immunosuppression. It took a couple of years for his strength and appetite to come back. He still does not have the energy other kids his age have and I don't think he ever will. He does enjoy many things in his life and is glad to be alive, but his life is not easy and will always be different because of cancer. Yours too will get better in time but cured does not mean you return to the life you had prior to cancer. Not worse but different. And people who have not lived through such a difficult experience don't easily understand what people like you and my son have lived through.

    dickl
  • pocoh823
    pocoh823 Member Posts: 4
    #3
    dickl said:

    My son had a transplant for AML 8 years ago at age 8. My wife and I often said the treatment period in the hospital seemed easier in many ways. All of our medical and personal needs were looked after by the wonderful staff at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital. The years after have more difficult.My son is cured but has many neurological problems from treatment and infections that got into his brain during the long period of immunosuppression. It took a couple of years for his strength and appetite to come back. He still does not have the energy other kids his age have and I don't think he ever will. He does enjoy many things in his life and is glad to be alive, but his life is not easy and will always be different because of cancer. Yours too will get better in time but cured does not mean you return to the life you had prior to cancer. Not worse but different. And people who have not lived through such a difficult experience don't easily understand what people like you and my son have lived through.

    dickl

    I am sorry to see your son go through such a tough time at such a young age. But i do give him credit.... I havent had a transplant, but if it happens to come back i think thats the next step. I just had my last treatment three months ago...so all I can do is stay positive and pray...But its true about the time spent in the hospital is easier....My husband and I were just married a little over a year when I was diagnosed so it was a tough but strengthening time in both our lives.
    Its very true when you say that others dont really understand the experience that surviors have been through...others in my family are helpful but sometimes think that I should be good as new by now.....but thats not the case....I see life in a different view...and just stay positive and if it comes back just deal with it a day at a time.....Thank you for sharing
  • dickl
    dickl Member Posts: 39
    #4
    pocoh823 said:

    I am sorry to see your son go through such a tough time at such a young age. But i do give him credit.... I havent had a transplant, but if it happens to come back i think thats the next step. I just had my last treatment three months ago...so all I can do is stay positive and pray...But its true about the time spent in the hospital is easier....My husband and I were just married a little over a year when I was diagnosed so it was a tough but strengthening time in both our lives.
    Its very true when you say that others dont really understand the experience that surviors have been through...others in my family are helpful but sometimes think that I should be good as new by now.....but thats not the case....I see life in a different view...and just stay positive and if it comes back just deal with it a day at a time.....Thank you for sharing

    Feel free to e-mail at my ACSN name dickl anytime.Is your appetite good,that's often a problem. Are your platlets back to normal counts.They are often the last things to return to normal and take a long time in doing so.Our experience strenghtened us as a family in many ways.Faith in a greater being can be a wonderful thing and faith in yourself and your husband. You are alive to get better,prognosis for AML is not always great but the longer you're in remission the better your future will be. Good luck and we'll keep you in our prayers.

    **** Lukens
  • chop_sticks
    chop_sticks Member Posts: 1
    #5
    Well, only being 17 yrs. of age myself, it is kind of hard to remember when the tiredness ended after being in remission. I personally think it never goes away. But within a few days or so you'll feel up to doing your usual things (so my mother said). Exercise and good foods definately help increase your strength and energy. Although not physically active myself, I do take little walks, bike rides, and keep watch of my 2 yr. old brother. It seems to do the trick. Well, after being in remission from ALL and brain cancer for so long you'd think I'd have the hang of things. Hope this helps...
    chop_sticks
  • tractorchick
    tractorchick Member Posts: 1
    #6
    I am only 14, and I have been in remission for two years now. I was a high risk patient, but I think the treatments were the same. It really depends on what type of chemo treatment it is. Sometimes I had to stay at the Childrens Hospital over the weekend for chemo because I was sick and too weak. Other times, it only took a couple hours. I pray that eveything works out for everyone.
  • pocoh823
    pocoh823 Member Posts: 4
    #7
    chop_sticks said:

    Well, only being 17 yrs. of age myself, it is kind of hard to remember when the tiredness ended after being in remission. I personally think it never goes away. But within a few days or so you'll feel up to doing your usual things (so my mother said). Exercise and good foods definately help increase your strength and energy. Although not physically active myself, I do take little walks, bike rides, and keep watch of my 2 yr. old brother. It seems to do the trick. Well, after being in remission from ALL and brain cancer for so long you'd think I'd have the hang of things. Hope this helps...
    chop_sticks

    Hey, sorry that it took a while to email back but the cancer actually came back so I had to go through some more chemo. I am planning to go through the bone marrow transplant soon. Did you have to go through BMT as well? How tough was it going through all that you went through? and if you dont mind me asking how old were you?
  • pocoh823
    pocoh823 Member Posts: 4
    #8
    tractorchick said:

    I am only 14, and I have been in remission for two years now. I was a high risk patient, but I think the treatments were the same. It really depends on what type of chemo treatment it is. Sometimes I had to stay at the Childrens Hospital over the weekend for chemo because I was sick and too weak. Other times, it only took a couple hours. I pray that eveything works out for everyone.

    It must have been tough going through what you did at such a young age. I am not saying that its easy at any age but I just never would ever think of going through this during my younger years ya know. I am glad that you have been in remission and I do pray that everything goes well. Did you do the bone marrow transplant.
  • missturbo
    missturbo Member Posts: 2
    #9
    pocoh823 said:

    It must have been tough going through what you did at such a young age. I am not saying that its easy at any age but I just never would ever think of going through this during my younger years ya know. I am glad that you have been in remission and I do pray that everything goes well. Did you do the bone marrow transplant.

    Hey there.. My name is Liz and I am 23 years old. I was diagnosed with AML in May 2004 and have recently had a stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) on October 12th. I'm up to day 29 so far... if you have any questions about it email me at missturbo69@yahoo.com.au Take Care
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
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