Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia

Hi, jean16 - I don't blame you for being slow with the tech and I'm SO glad your husband is doing well!  I certainly found the initial weeks of each cycle, with 5 doses of arsenic, quite hard - I was sick quite often.  But (like your husband, I expect) I was really lucky to be so well looked after at home. I had the programmed 5 cycles, although a bone marrow test after cycle 3 showed no trace of APL: my consultant said 'better safe than sorry'!  Your husband's fatigue sounds familiar, and mine got better a few weeks after the course finished.  My treatment finished last September and they tested 3 weeks later, so I was declared in remission in October.  I had my first monitoring biopsy in January and I've just had the 2nd - it's a bit of a stress waiting for the result, but they haven't called up in a rush! I reckon I feel fine, although I am definitely weaker than I was before the illness and busy physical work (which I enjoy) does cause some aches and pains.

Anyway, great news that he's doing so well and long may it continue!

Hello Til73, i hope that you finished your threatment for the APL, and i eanted to ask you for sharing some experience with me. 
Also i hope you went through this with no or less uncomfortable side-effects, because after i saw what my son went through, i dont wish those moments to anyone. He had almost every side - efect that the doctors said it may be caused by the threatment.

My son, 4 years old, was diagnosed two months ago. He finished the first phase of the treatment and doctors made co troling bone marrow. We were expecting to succeed remision with 0 cells but the result came 0,9. I dobt know what does this mean, is it good or is it bad? Is the therapy working or not? I am afraid that something is not done as it should be. Should i wait to see what will be the next result after we finish the first consolidation therapy, or should we ask for threatment in other hospital. With all respect, doctors here in North Macedonia are good, but as this type of leucemia is very rare i go crazy, and especially now when he is not in remision after the first phase. 

Thank you

Hi Jack, I had the same as you, diagnosed extremely suddenly in April 2022, same treatment regimen, achieved complete molecular remission after induction cycle.  Thankfully there are no major complications so far, but, yes, I was a bit unwell after week 1 of each cycle with the 5 consecutive days and not being used to it after a 4 week break.  My first quarterly follow up tests thankfully came back ok, it does make you nervous thinking about it, but no point in worrying, if a relapse happens, it happens.  You just do whatever is needed.

Hi, Renaissance

Glad to hear that you're in remission too and long may it last! You're right about the need for acceptance.