Tag Archives: CML

Day 5

17 Monday Feb 2014

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I had my bone marrow biopsy today.  It was one of the most painful experiences I’ve had and not be doing something I enjoyed.  If you’ve never had one let me tell you what they did.  First they made me undress and put on a backless hospital gown.  The did give me a pair of disposable terrycloth shorts to put on underneath.  I lay there for a while until the doctors come in and he tells me to lay on my left side in a fetal position.  The doctor then injects the area on my hip with a local antithetic which hurt like hell.  Then the real pain begins when he begins to drill into my hip with some sort of needle.  That hurt worse than hell.  The whole procedure didn’t last thirty minutes but it felt like an eternity while he was doing it.  I call the doctor next Monday to make yet another Dr. appointment to find out the results.  

Trying to keep my spirits up. 

Day 1

13 Thursday Feb 2014

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I titled this as “Day 1” because this is the first day as being diagnosed as having CML, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.  

This day started off crazy.  Last night and into early this morning we got over 4 inches of snow.  Roads were closed and almost all business were closed, including my Oncologist.  My appointment was at 9:30 am and I started calling around 8 am to see if they were going to be seeing any patients today.  To make a long story short, I was finally able to make an appointment for 2 pm today.

Due to the snow all the schools were closed and my wife was able to go to the appointment with me.  The doctor sat us down and was very through.  He went line by line and explained everything to us.  He answered all our questions and made sure we understood.  He had a since of urgency when he spoke and he knew without asking that I was deeply concerned with my health. 

Several years ago this type of Leukemia was quite fatal.  The survival rate was only three to five years.  Now the survival rate is much higher with a 95 percent rate. I’m not liking the “L” word but if I had to choose which one I wanted I think this one would be it.  A pill taken twice a day is not a cure but it will control the spread if they have caught it in time.  We shall know this answer come Monday.  I have a bone marrow biopsy Monday morning and this should tell me which stage I’m in.

If you are a praying person, I’d like for you to spend a moment or two saying a prayer not for me but for my wife and kids.  I have a set of twin daughters, 16 yrs old and a 20 year old son who are taking this pretty hard.  

TH