doctor visit

[askingyou]

I know nothing about leukemia..  our doctor said my son is severly anemic, platelets at 49,000 .
He went in for night sweats and fever.  We were told Leukemia,  but it hasn't been
confirmed since he hasn't had other tests done yet.  Please what causes the fever and
night sweats?.   They seem to be getting worse.
What shall we look out for, with any problems that may occur?
And what can we expect that may happen to him?

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Myeloid and Myelogenous can be used interchangeably.  
AML can be caused by genetic aberrations involving translocations or rearrangement of genes.  It can also be caused by infectious and environmental exposures.  Maternal exposure to a quinine-containing topoisomerase II inhibitors (a kind of drug) has been proposed to be a risk factor for development of infant AML.
There are favorable prognostic variables for childhood AML, including white blood cell count <100,000/uL, one course to complete response, etc.  Perhaps these should be discussed with your son's hematologist.
Hope this helps.

[askingyou]

Thank you for your comment !.  Maybe you can help me understand the difference between Myeloid and Myelogenous.
They say he has the active phenotype, acute myelogenous.   The only treatment they are currently using is Chemo- Idarubicin and Ara-C., along with blood transfusions about every 3 days. 7/3 bags which he has completed and sent him home yesterday. And may consider treatment a second time.  They will be doing another bone marrow biopsy in a few days to see if the chromosomes has changed any.
This came on fast for him.  
Is this due to toxins? Or genetic?  Genetic would be more chronic type. Correct?

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy.  
In acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), the complete remission rate after treatment is around 85%, but only 30-50% of patients are long-term survivors.
What is your son's chemotherapy regimen?
Hopefully he can tolerate his treatment.
Please do give him comfort especially after every session of chemotherapy to alleviate the side effects of treatment.
Stay positive.

[askingyou]

Thank you Jennifer for your concern.
My son's test came back as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. This kind is the less survival rate?   It hit him fast.  He's going down hill very fast..  They hurried to start Chemo.. for 10 days.
They said after 14 days they will know whether he will go uphill or downhill.
I'm not sure what it will be like for him while on the chemo...  because they also detected h ploryi in his stomach.
How can I help him to get through the Chemo part?
Any suggestions or advice will greatly be appreciated.

[Jennifer375]

Dear asking,, please visit this website for resorces information regarding childhood cancer and leukemia in particular.

http://www.oreilly.com/medical/leukemia/news/organizations.html

First have the test done,,, then you will know a little more. Take a notebook to write everything down to be sure you can research it if you have questions and feel you cant remeber everything. Hopefully, God I hope,, the test will come back as something less seriouse and the doctors are just giving you worst case scenario. But try to remeber your son needs you to try and be brave because he probalby has no clue why your so concerned right now. If you want him to thats up to you,, but remeber he reads your face and if you let yourself linger on the worst outcome he will have a harder time too.

Please join the board,, as a cancer survivor myself I only wish to hear that your son is alright. Life can be crazy so dont rush back, but please do share when you know more and know there are others here to support you. I will be anyways,,

*May heaven bless and light your families path*