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Grayfeathersblog

~ Diabetes, Cancer Fighter, Father of Twins, Kayak Fishing, Lover of Life

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Tag Archives: Leukemia

365 Day Photo Challenge 273/365 “Half Day Tomorrow”

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Appointment, Cancer, Cats, CML, Diabeties, Doctor, Leukemia, PTO

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I have a doctors appointment tomorrow with my general practitioner.  I see him every six months and have been every since I’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes.   If you don’t have a regular doctor I would highly suggest that you get one.  If it wasn’t for my biannual checkups my CML would not have been diagnosed until it was too late.

I’ve got to talk to him about several items that I’m having problems with so it might be a longer visit than normal.  I will not be going back to work after my appointment.  I’m sort of looking forward to a little time off.

365 Day Photo Challenge 204/365 “Stay Off the Internet!!”

22 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, AML, Bone Marrow Biopsy, Bone Marrow Transplant, Cancer, CML, Leukemia, Photography

https://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Botanical-Gardens/i-M8vWhDb/A

When I was diagnosed with CML, my doctor told me to stay off the internet.  What he meant was don’t do any research on my own because if I did I might get upset at what I found.  He was right.  I did my research and I did find some information that made me concerned.  That’s all in the past now.  My doctor and I are on the same page and we’ve discussed everything there is to know about CML including what could happen if I skipped or stopped taking my meds,  if the drug I’m on decides to quit working or if the cancer decides to take a different route.  I have complete faith in my doctor and I trust him implicitly.

I have the Chronic form of this type of Leukemia.  There are other, more advance forms that are more difficult to control.  Acute Myeloid Leukemia is of course the most difficult form to get under control and often times means a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy and sometimes even death.  In fact, there is a survival rate of 65% of all AML patients.  Which is not bad considering that just about 15 years ago the survival rate on only about 2%.

Age has a lot to do with being able to survive the processes of reaching remission.  Having to go through a bone marrow transplant plus going through chemo is something that takes a lot out of the body.  The information that I read today stated that people older than 60 years of age the chances of them reaching complete remission (CR) are not very good.  For people who are diagnosed after the age 60 usually are given three to five years even if they decide to go through the bone marrow transplant and the chemo.  Not very promising.

I brought this up because yesterday while on my way home from work I got a phone call from a friend of mine.  Her ex husband’s mother who is 86 years of age was diagnosed yesterday with AML. They have done a bone marrow biopsy and the diagnosis is confirmed.  Her MIL has decided not to receive any form of treatments.  The doctors have given her two to three months to live.

When I was first diagnosed with CML I was told by many of my nurse friends that if someone had a choice as to which form of Leukemia to get, you would want the Chronic form.  After hearing the news of my friends MIL diagnosis I feel blessed to have the Chronic form.  I would rather not have cancer at all but I do and I have to deal with it the best way I know how.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 168/365 “New Beginnings”

16 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Cancer, CML, Leukemia, Life, Photography

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It’s amazing how one minute life is as usual and then the next life turns upside down and you don’t know which way to turn.  Life should be as a highway with road signs that tells you that there is a turn up ahead or the speed limit changes that way there would be at least a warning that your life is about to be turned upside down.

I’m not one to give advice on such matters because each scenario would be different for each person and each person would handle the situation in different ways.  To have a new beginning would be hard to do no matter what you’re going through.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 49/365 “Running Out of Time”

18 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Cancer, CML, Dana Micael, Leukemia, Sick

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Photo-Shoots/Dana-Micael/i-wWCw9tQ/A

I’ve been sick since Sunday and so far I’ve missed two days of work.  I’ll be taking off again tomorrow to go back to the doctor to see if I can get another shot to hopefully finally get rid of this mess.  I’ve been sick more since I’ve been diagnosed with CML than in the past several years combined.  The doctor did say that my immune system will be low but I wasn’t really prepared for all the time off that I’ve had to take so far.

“Life Goes On”

365 Day Photo Challenge 44/365 “Night Out on the Town”

14 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Aniversery, Cancer, CML, Gymnastic, Leukemia, Pep Band, Photo, Photography

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Went to Tuscaloosa tonight to the Gymnastics meet and also spent a few minutes with my son who played in the pep band.  Please forgive the picture as I was way up in the stands with my 70-300mm zoom lense.  Our team one which is always a good thing.

Today marks the one year anniversary since my diagnosis of CML.  I’ve got an appointment to see my oncologist in just a little over a month.  I’m still waiting on the test results that state there are no traces of the cancer in my blood.  That day will come soon enough I hope.

I Lost it Today :(

17 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Depression, Leukemia

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bad Mood, Bloodwork, Blurred Vision, Cancer, Challenges, Christmas, CML, Depression, Leukemia

Today was not a good day for me.  I guess all the troubles in my life finally caught up with me.

For those just finding out about this blog, I have CML, a form of Leukemia.  I was diagnosed with it this past February.  I’ve been taking Gleevec and until last week I thought I was doing pretty good.  My BCR AbL started off at 138 and had gotten down to .134 three months ago.  My last report last week the test showed that it went up to over 2. It was a big disappointment.  I go back in six weeks.

Last week was the beginning of my trouble when my 17 yr old daughter was involved in an accident.  It seems that an 88 yr old man pulled out in front of her.  My daughter is fine with the exception of some back pain in which she is seeing a doctor about.  This was my wife’s 14 yr old van that was totaled by the insurance company.  We do not really have the funds to get another vehicle at this time especially since Christmas is just around the corner.  Just don’t know what to do at this point.

And to add to already what’s going on I’m having eye issues and I’m going to have eye surgery the first part of January.

This is the Christmas season and it’s supposed to be a happy time.  It usually is but the last few years it get’s harder and harder to get into the Christmas spirit.  With my health the way it is and not knowing what the future holds it’s easy for me to get depressed.  I’m the father of three and I’m supposed to be strong and not show emotions but I’m here to tell you that it’s difficult for me to hold it in.  Especially today.

It was while at lunch today.  We were listening to the company choir sing some Christmas songs when it hit me.  I was remembering the times when my kids were younger and times were much different.  I got to thinking just how much longer do I have?  I was doing ok until the choir started singing a song that I haven’t heard since my childhood and that’s when I started to loose it.  Not wanting to show my emotions in public I had to get up and leave the table.  It took be several hours to get my act together.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Good News for Now!

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Bloodwork, Cancer, CML, Dr Appt, Leukemia, Medications, Oncologist, Test

Heard from my oncologist this afternoon. My levels has dropped down to .134%.from .734% two months ago. It’s still not zero but it’s slowly getting there. The doctor feels confidant enough to leave me on my current medication. The only thing that was discussed that I’m not to pleased with was the topic of another bone marrow biopsy. We will discuss this more in depth at my next doctor appointment in three months

No News Yet plus Furious

22 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Cancer, CML, Dating, daughters, Fatherhood, Furious, Leukemia, text

There’s a saying that no news is good news.  Well, in my case that’s not necessarily so.  I started several times today to call just to see if they had come in but I refrained from doing so.

On another note.  I am so furious right now I can’t see straight.  I have never had to deal with such things until my teenage daughter turned 16 and started dating.  These boys these days are so horrible.  A few weeks ago my daughter got a dear john text.  That within it self made me furious.  What a coward.  About a week later to my disappointment they got back together.  Guess what!  He did it again.  I wished I could put my hands around his neck and teach him the necessity of breathing.  He better be glad he’s away a college right now and not down the road where his parents live.  No one hurts my daughter and gets away with it.  This is part of fatherhood that I’m not prepared for.  Ho does one prepare for such things?

Thanks for following me!!

21 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

BCR ABL, Blogging, Blood Cancer, Cancer, CML, Leukemia, Oncologist

Went to the my oncologist last Wednesday.  He was not happy with my last results that was taken over two months ago. BCR ABl test results was .73% which I thought was pretty good until he told me it HAD to be down to zero and had to be within the first six months.  I was diagnosed in February so six months would make it in July.  I’m currently waiting for the doctor to call me to tell me what my results were last week.  If it’s not zero then I’m going to have to get on some other type of meds.

I don’t do this or any other blog for followers but just to be able to get things off my chest.  As I am honored to have each of you follow me I am somewhat surprised to see some what I would call super bloggers that are following me.  I’m really glad to have each and everyone of you on board.

Looking for a stress free zone.

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cancer, CML, Cycling, Leukemia, Stress, Vision, Weight loss

The last month has been one of those months where nothing seemed to go right.  The last few weeks has just topped it all off.  

I had to have laser treatments in both my eyes and boy let me tell you what an experience that was.  Before my first treatment the doctor told me that there was no words in the English dictionary that would describe just how bright the laser was.  He was right.  I’ve never experienced anything like that before and I hope I don’t have to go through that again any time soon.

All the doctors seem to agree that the CML was the cause of my vision problems and not the Gleevec.  I am now back on my medications.  Although, I do believe my vision is getting a little worse as the time passes.  I don’t go back to either of my doctors until mid July.  

The weather here has been nice enough to ride my bicycle and I’m really glad.  It’s really been nice to be able to get out and do some riding to get rid of some of this stress that I’ve been having to deal with.  My job has really got me to a point where I’m counting the days until I can retire; 4 years, 2 months and 15 days.  In the last nine days I’ve been able to ride seven of those days at at least twenty miles each day.  I’ll be traveling to Dothan, Alabama on the sixth of June to ride in the Tri States Ride on the seventh of June.  I’ll be riding the 45 mile loop.

A lot of changes at work within the past month.  The manager we had resigned and now we have a new manager.  He’s got a military background and is very strict on policies and procedures.  Right now I don’t know if I like him or not.  I’ll have to give him another week or so.

The last two weeks I’ve been repairing air conditioning units on the roof of a warehouse.  Fifteen units to be exact.  Most has had bad compressors and or bad condenser fan motors.  It’s been a real hot job and we’re finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  However, rain has entered the equation and the lack of parts so we’ve had to put the repairs on hold until next week.  At least we’ll get a break for a couple of days.  

People keep asking me how I’m doing with my CML.  I’m doing good I guess.  Other than the eye problems and the leg cramps I’ve had no other symptoms of either the CML or the Gleevec.  I’m finally able to see some results of my bike riding plus the dehydration factor of being on the roof for two weeks has really helped out as well.  

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