long term affects after treatment

Long Term affects
Hello,

My name is Matthew and I had AML when I was 2 years old. Relapsed after a bone marrow transplant but God healed me. One night when I was sapposed to die and the doctors called in my entire family, my mother prayed for me over the phone. They laid hands on me and the next day I had recovered. Docotors couldnt figure out what had happened but they never found cancer in my body ever again. As you can see by my name I was born in 1986. So I'm 23 years old now and I have never seen a single side effect of cancer since. I am currently in the Army as well, serving my country and am in Top physical shape. I dont get sick very often at all. I havent been sick in the last 2 years. Just know this, the mind is a very powerfull thing and you can talk your way into being sick. Mentality is the first thing to change before during and after cancer. I'm not saying that your current issues arnt real, but believing that you will get better is key. You will get better! There is a better life waiting for you and I hope you find it soon!

-Matt-

angelajh said:

Late effects of Cancer Survivors
Hi momoz71,
I was 15 when I was diagnosed with AML. I went into remission with Chemotherapy only and fortunatly have stayed there for 22 years. I am now 37 years old and I have just recently heard about the late effects of treatment. In the last couple of years I have experienced chronic fatigue and depression. I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I have been on Antidepressants for 14 years now but still seem to struggle with it. I went to a new Dr. last week who suggested I be tested for some hormone imbalances. She said that could explain the chronic fatigue and some of the depression. Has anyone else experienced hormone problems as a late effect of Chemotherapy?

Late effects
Hi,

I was also diagnosed with AML at 2 and was on chemo for 13 years, though went into remission at age 5. Always believed there was something not quite right with the way my system worked, though I led a very healthy lifestyle - worked out regularly, ate very healthfully - couldn't really lose weight though I certainly gained it with ease. In my early/mid 30s I started to experience some real systemic issues that made me think I had diabetes, though tests would come up negative. I don't know if the chronic fatigue you're experience is what I experienced, but I would wake up feeling like someone had drugged me - I couldn't get myself going in the morning and just felt sluggish. By mid afternoon that feeling would return - I'd feel exhausted, yet by nighttime I couldn't really wind down and had trouble falling asleep. Then, I started having trouble regulating my body temperature and it just went downhill from there.

I went through a lot of tests, including a sleep study. Finally, I went to Dana Farber's Center for Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancers. The endocrinologist there didn't have any idea what was causing all my issues, but she recommended I see a metabolic specialist in my area (New York City) who has done a lot of work with cancer patients. That doctor immediately diagnosed me as being insulin resistant and said that my list of symptoms were classic diabetic symptoms, which were caused by the build up of insulin and glucose. The insulin resistance was caused by all those years of Prednisone chemotherapy.

After just one pill I felt a distinct difference - I'm not saying it solved all my problems; right around the same time I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition also linked to my chemotherapy treatment and I suspect that I have a thyroid condition that has yet to be treated, so my own journey continues. However, I would suggest, that you review the diabetes symptoms and see how closely they compare to what you are experiencing. If they sound really familiar to you, then I'd suggest you talk to a metabolic specialist. It's not so easy to diagnose insulin resistance and many doctors simply look at whether your insulin and glucose falls within the acceptable AMA range - once it's above that range you're diabetic. If you're like me and you're eating right and doing what you can to take care of yourself, it can take quite a long time to cross that threshold, but in the meantime you are doing real damage and working against yourself.

If I can be of any help to you, please feel free to contact me. I've spent a lot of time on this and feel very strongly (obviously) about patient advocacy and am only too happy to be assistance if I can be.

--Lauren (e_inkwell@hotmail.com)

Matt1986 said:

Long Term affects
Hello,

My name is Matthew and I had AML when I was 2 years old. Relapsed after a bone marrow transplant but God healed me. One night when I was sapposed to die and the doctors called in my entire family, my mother prayed for me over the phone. They laid hands on me and the next day I had recovered. Docotors couldnt figure out what had happened but they never found cancer in my body ever again. As you can see by my name I was born in 1986. So I'm 23 years old now and I have never seen a single side effect of cancer since. I am currently in the Army as well, serving my country and am in Top physical shape. I dont get sick very often at all. I havent been sick in the last 2 years. Just know this, the mind is a very powerfull thing and you can talk your way into being sick. Mentality is the first thing to change before during and after cancer. I'm not saying that your current issues arnt real, but believing that you will get better is key. You will get better! There is a better life waiting for you and I hope you find it soon!

-Matt-

i completely agree with you.
i completely agree with you. prayer helped me soooo much.