Leukemia

Does anyone know anyone who has had it? My cousin's cousin was just diagnosed with Leukemia, she is 26 years old and just got married last year. She'll find out more tomorrow (going for more tests/doctors) but I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about it and if the person you know who had it was cured? TIA!

Re: Leukemia

my DH had it when he was little (ages 2-6) he has been in remission since then (almost 32)and is perfectly healthy. i think alot depends on how soon you find out you have it - to the beginning of treatments. Also kids with leukemia seam to respond easier, and faster to treatments.

I am pretty sure the older you get the worse it is, but 26 is still young!

re: children, I remember asking my OB/GYN about having children a while back and they said it shouldn't be a problem for men, b/c they are not born with their reproductive organs like females are born with their ovaries... so he wouldnt have been effected by the treatments, etc.

Sorry I dont have that much info for you.. but I HTH.

Hope all goes well with the testing tomorrow - my thoughts and prayers are with her.

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sorry to hear about it! don't know too much on this cancer but i have had my mom cousin, her dh, there daughter, and my aunt all beat 3 differant kinds of cancer! so beiong age is still on her side and how her health was to begin with i hope she pulls through very quickly!

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My friend's son had leukemia and the doctors actually didn't think he was going to make it - and he is now in remission!

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Wow, thank you all for your stories. I hope and pray everything turns out ok for her as it did in your cases. I can't imagine what she and her DH and family are going through.

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I hate cancer- but depending on the type of Leukemia and the timing it's very treatable

I have some great doctors if she needs a recommendation

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I think it depends on the type.
My cousin was diagnosed it when he was 11. (I was 10 at the time). He died right before his 15th birthday. He was in remission once for a nine month period. He was at Memorial Sloane Kettering in the city...great cancer hospital.

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My brother was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago with APL he is 18 years old. Alot of factors contribute to the prognoses age, the type of leukemia and any other health issues. Although the amount of time she has had it does not matter, once the leukemia cells form the case is full blown, the only way that time is a factor is because the organs are stronger the if they have not been fighting it for so long. The kind my brother has is the most rare but it is also the most curable, one in 500,000,000 leukemia patients get APL. My brother is currently in Stony Brooke in pediatrics Oncology, his doctor is number 3 in nation for pediatric leukemia. I understand how you feel and if you need to talk let me know. I have learned more about leukemia in the last 3 weeks then I ever would have in my lifetime.

Message edited 6/26/2006 10:58:01 AM.

Re: Leukemia

I don't know any adults who had it but a friend of mine had it as a child ( around 7-8, before I knew him) & is fine now at almost 32. I'm not sure how long he underwent treatment, but I knew he only missed 1 year of school.



ETA- Bridget, sorry to hear about your brother, too.

Message edited 6/26/2006 11:03:54 AM.

Re: Leukemia

I had a friend in elementary school who had it...unfortunately, her results were not as good as the stories posted here and she passed away when we were in 4th grade. It was the first funeral I remember going to...and I can still see her face (it was an open casket)

I hope that since medicine has come such a long way since then, your cousin will be fine and that they caught it early on

Message edited 6/26/2006 12:48:37 PM.

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My best friend was diagnosed with accute myeloid leukemia at the age of 19 and died exactly one month after being diagnosed and my FIL was also diagnosed with accute myeloid leukemia and he was treated on and off (mostly on-he was allowed home for christmas) but past away 9 months after being diagnosed. Sending a ton of hugs your way

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I'm so sorry for everyone who has lost someone due to this or has even watched a loved one suffer from it. It is so horrible!!! I pray she is ok and has a happy long life!

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my boss's wife currently just underwent this and was in isolation for a while at sloan, but suddenly developed something on her lung and is on respirators and everything. she is in ICU, we are always thinking about her praying she gets through it. she was about to go home but then she suddenly developed this other problem. they always say the cure is easier than the recovery, well in this case at least. makes you think more about how short life is when you hear stories like this!
god bless all the survivors and to your friends and families currently suffering.

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It depends on the type- some are much more treatable than others.
A good friend of mine died from Leukemia - he was 30 years old. He had AML, that is one of the less treatable forms.
I am sorry I can't give you a good story .
He too was at Sloane-Kettering, they are wonderful there.

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My brother is coming home today after over 3 weeks in the hospital. He will have to go back once a week to the outpaitent clinic for about 3 months. But overall he is doing much better then he was 3 weeks ago.

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That's great news, I hope he continues to recover!!!!!

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My 28 year old cousin had AML II, I'm pretty sure you know the story from when it was on LIF, I'm sorry the ending isn't good, but hers was just too far along.
I wish your friend all the best. Link

Message edited 6/29/2006 9:21:10 PM.

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Well my brother went for his first check up since being released from the hospital, and they think my brother might already be in remission. I am so excited that words can not express how I feel. They are sending him for another bone biopsy next week. Can everyone please pray that he is indeed in remission? If he is in remission it will be 28 months of remission until they consider him cured. I know that if he is in remission it is a complete miracle since he was only diagnosed a month from this coming Thursday. So I know the prayers are definitely working.

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My uncle was diagnosed in his 40's with it. He beat it and has been in remission for 10+ years.

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My brother passed away from leukemia. He was 3 years old. It was a long time ago, and so many advances have been made, that chances of survival are much better now than what they were years ago.

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i don't know anyone personally who had leukemia but i have worked a lot with bone marrow in the lab (karyotyping bone marrows which determine prognosis/treatment)

it definitely depends on the type she has. generally acute forms of leukemia like ALL are better for younger patients and the chronic forms like CML are better for adults. Within the different types there are other variables as well that contribute to prognosis which is all part of the routine testing.

I hope all goes well

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Well I just wanted to update everyone and let them know that my brother is in remission. And to FireIslandLove I pray that your cousin also goes into remission soon along with everyone else who is fighting this horrible disease.