Need someone's input

McBean
McBean Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Emotional Support #1
I was diagnosed with ALL in March of 06 and started therapy right away. In June of that same year I went into remission, but still continued chemo and radiation therapy as scheduled. I went back to work moved out into my own apartment and in April of this year I had a relapse. I went into the hospital and they implanted an Ommaya Revervoir to administer chemo through. We were scheduled to go to Shands in Gainsville, Fl. for a transplant, we kept getting the run-around so I sent in a self refferal form to MD Anderson. I have been here since 11/7/08 and they are putting me through a clinical trial until they get me into complete remission, then they are going to do a stem cell transplant. I am away from home and scared. I have my dad here but sometimes it would help to talk to someone who knows what I am going through. If anyone wants tehy can email me at c_stubbs_23@yahoo.com. I would greatly appriciate it! *kisses*

Comments

  • blueroses
    blueroses Member Posts: 524
    #2
    Had a transplant and still here 20 years later
    I didn't have ALL, I had NHL and had a bone marrow transplant, actually one of the first done with stem cells 18 years ago on a recurrance. Transplants have probably changed in the last 18 years I'm sure but the reason I am writing to you is to show you that here I am all these years later after a transplant and that was so long ago. I wish you all the very best on your journey with cancer and it's treatments and remember that on this discussion board there are also transplant discussions and possible ALL as well. May 2009 find you through your transplant successfully and on your way to a healthier being. Hugs and Blessings, Blueroses.
  • terato
    terato Member Posts: 375
    #3
    Back when I worked for the Leukemia Society of America,
    (1988 - 93), the prognosis for childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia patients was very good. I had hoped that similar progress had been made for young adults? Please look at this National Institute of Health article for some encouraging statistics:

    "BACKGROUND: Interest has recently been paid to adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, particularly because all reports so far published indicate that these patients have a better outcome when treated with pediatric rather than adult therapeutic protocols. There are different biological subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with distinct features and prognoses; the distribution of these subtypes is not well known among adolescents. We, therefore, studied acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 25 years in Finland. DESIGN AND METHODS: This population-based study included 225 consecutive patients aged 10-25 years diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during 1990-2004. One hundred and twenty-eight patients (10-16 years) were treated with pediatric Nordic (NOPHO) protocols, and 97 patients (17-25 years) with Finnish Leukemia Group National protocols. We characterized the biological subtypes, clinical features and outcome of these patients. RESULTS: For the whole cohort, the remission rate was 96%, 5-year event-free survival 62% and overall survival 72%.The 5-year event-free survival was 67% for the pediatric treatment group and 60% for the adult treatment group (p=n.s.). Patients with inferior outcome were those with a white blood cell count >or= 100 x 10(9)/L, the Philadelphia chromosome and MLL. Good prognostic features were TEL-AML1, hyperdiploidy, and pediatric intermediate risk stratification. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike all previous studies, we found that the outcome of adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with pediatric or adult therapeutic protocols was comparable. The success of the adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy emphasizes the benefit of central referral of patients to academic centers and adherence to research protocols."

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18556413

    McBean, I am a 26-year survivor of metastatic testicular cancer (Lance Armstong's disease). When I was diagnosed in 1980, the aggregate prognosis was actually slightly less encouraging than what the above indicates for ALL, and I'm still standing! (Actually, I am sitting, but you get the idea!).

    Love and Courage!

    Rick

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