My dad was diagnosed with leukaemia on sunday.we found out it was myeloid on Monday .I havent cried yet is this a normal process? Dad also has a severe case of cellulitis, is thisa normal infection to have with Myeloid ?
don't worry about what is or isn't "normal". I don't know for sure about the cellulitus, ask your doctor. Maybe someone else here can answer that. How old is your Dad? How has he been over the past few months or weeks? What's happening to him now? How are you?
Good morning Dave,my dad is 51 yrs old.My dad hasn't been well since before Xmas,he took himself to his Gp they told him he had shingles.This went on for weeks,they kept giving him antibiotics. Dad's legs started swelling up,I told him this isnt shingles. He went back to the Gp last Thursday they did a blood test, he received a telephone call Friday to go to the hospital & he never came out .They started giving him tablets that begin with an A,I can't remember the name. Chemotherapy is starting today. Its all happened so fast.
My 86 mum too had side effects. One being cellulitis. I happened to be seeing an osteopath at the time and mentioned it. He said he would be able to help her, which he did. We saw him 3 times and each time he relived her symptoms. My mum used to call him her miracle man as he always made her feel better.
As for crying, I didn't do much either as you are so wrapped up in caring for your parent. Hope this helps x
It sounds like you have both done the right thing in persisting with the GP. It took me 4 GP visits and a misdiagnosis in a major hospital before I got diagnosed, unfortunately AML can be difficult to diagnose.
Your Dad is relatively young, he has a fight ahead, but with your support he can do it. I was diagnosed in May last year and finished treatment in August. On Tuesday this week I was out hillwalking on Dartmoor. I still feel tired from the treatment, it is no bed of roses, but we are lucky to get good treatment here, and leukaemia is one area in which we lead.
It does all happen fast at the start, and each case is different, so don't compare with other patients, as they adjust the treatment to each person. Read up about it when you can - the Macmillan booklets (also available on this site) are great. Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research have some good patient experiences to read about on their website. I found Macmillan really good for advice on how to talk to people, and how to understand my feelings. Your Dad won't be able to do much for the next few months (the treatment often leaves you feeling really weak, massive fatigue), so do help sort things out for him if he wants.
If you get any questions as you go along I would be very happy to help as someone who has been there recently. Thinking of you both.
My husband was diagnosed with AML in September 2012 aged 57. It took 5 weeks and 2 visits to the doctors and hospital for them to do the tests for Leukaemia - which I suspected he had some form of all along. He was immediately sent up to Addenbrookes and didn't come out of there for 5 weeks.
He had 4 rounds of chemo, it's a rough ride. After the first round he went into complete remission. Everyone is different and will react to the chemo differently. The fatigue I think hits all AML patients who go through the gruelling chemo. Take it one day at a time. Ray subsequently had numerous infections, but the specialist nurses and doctors are wonderful - they sort of become part of the family.
I cried and cried for a day or 2 and it took a long time to really sink in. My family and friends became a true lifeline. Unfortunately his family haven't bothered with him very much, one sister hadn't even bothered to visit.
Ray has since had a stem cell transplant, and is doing well. He's still here 2 years and 4 months on and for that I am eternally grateful as he is.
Good luck for your dad, stay positive and as I said before take it one day at a time. Use this website if you need support.
my wife was diagnosed almost by accident. She went to the doctors one Tuesday for another reason and while there they took some blood for testing, she was told to phone back Thursday for the results. But a few hours later they called her telling her to go to the MacMillan ward at the local hospital at 9am Wednesday. That's when I thought it was leukemia. More tests during the Wednesday and on the Friday we got the results, we were told it was AML. Her treatment started the following Monday. During the second round of chemo she died 16th Jan 2014, aged 61. That's when my tears started and they still flow though not quite as much. That's when I learned what most women know, crying makes you so damn tired.
Don't let this frighten you, most people survive and the younger they are the better the chances. We were simply one of the unlucky few. Her death was totally unexpected. Morale and attitude are very, very important, keep the patient happy and smiling as much as possible. Enjoy the days when you can, relive some memories, talk about the past. Don't waste time. What you are about to go through is not easy but it can be beaten - remember that: It can be beaten.
I wish you, and others in your postion, the very best of luck and I'll be here as often as i can.
With the help of me, my brother & sister our dad will pull through, all we can do is think postive & positive things happen. Dad's started his Chemotherapy today,he had a session this afternoon & another session at 8pm .
What to expect: In our case getting the drugs in to my wife was comparatively easy, no major discomfort. You'll notice changes after the last dose has been administered, in our case it lasted about 10 days. She was very tired all the time, had trouble eating and drinking. There were allergic reactions to some of the drugs.
Think about taking in small amounts of his favourite healthy foods. Make sure he drinks water, that will keep his veins enlarged and make the flow of the drugs easier. The downside is he'll need to go to the toilet more often of course.
One regret I have is I didn't read to my wife the books she liked, she was an avid reader. if only...
"Get well" cards made a huge difference to her moral. I even got colleagues at work to send cards in, people she had never met, but the cards helped.
Thanks for the tip to keep the veins enlarged.My dad has very recently developed headaches,the doctors don't no what it's is.He also suffers with jaw ache,it's quite swollen. The doctors have said that it's all linked to Aml,nothing has shown on his scans, has anybody else had this symptom or heard of this before? My dads on day 3 of his chemo,he has got more colour to his skin, but tells me he doesn't really feel like eating.
Hi, not sure if you will read this as clearly your post was years ago. I find myself in a very similar position to the one you describe in which I am sure I have leukemia but my visits to drs have proved fruitless. What eventually was the way in which the doctors/hospital took that final step and realised he had leukemia.
