Today April 21st is AML World Awareness Day, and I thought I would share some facts about it as a survivor.
AML stands for acute myeloid leukemia. It is a type of blood cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets. While AML is the most common type of leukemia in adults, it is still fairly rare overall, accounting for only 1% of all cancers.
Key Statistics for Acute Myeloid Leukemia”
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for leukemia in the United States for 2020 are:
About 60,530 new cases of leukemia (all types) and 23,100 deaths from leukemia (all types)
About 19,940 new cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Most will be in adults.
About 11,180 deaths from AML. Almost all will be in adults.
For percentages purposes, that’s 56% of the people diagnosed not surviving this illness, with only 1 in 4 of all AML patients reaching the 5-year survival rate.
Some of the symptoms of AML include fatigue, recurrent infections, fevers, night sweats, and bruising easily.
I was diagnosed on August 7th, 2017, on my mother’s birthday. I had all the symptoms listed above, along with stomach issues, dangerously heavy bleeding when on my period, and impaired eyesight due to retinal hemorrhaging. After I was diagnosed, I was admitted into the hospital just 10 days later to start chemotherapy, my blast was already high, so my treatment was aggressive.
My first round of chemo required me to spend a month in the hospital, the first few weeks, it was fine, but once chemo hit me, it hit me hard. I can say without any hesitation that it was the most challenging, most agonizing experience of my life. I felt awful all the time. I went from being a normal young woman to feeling like I was 80. I had no energy, I couldn’t eat without throwing it all up, I lost my hair which was a harder blow to my emotions than I expect. Depression hid me hard.
There were unfortunate setbacks to my treatment. I was rushed to the ER by my frightened parents more than once. I almost hemorrhaged out twice and had multiple blood infections, one of which nearly shut down my kidneys and other vital organs. I was moved to the ICU three times and spent a few weeks there.
I said my goodbyes more than once and even begged my loved ones to just let me die because I wanted the pain to end. And you want to know the crazy thing? Even with all that, I’m one of the lucky ones.
My doctors would comment on how well I was handling treatment and how strong I was. I responded to chemo, going into remission quickly before moving on to more chemo for consolidation. I didn’t end up needing a bone marrow transplant. All that pain and fear, yet I know others on the same hospital floor as me being treated for the same had it worse. I had 5 different roommates in my months in the hospital, and except for one, none of them are here today.
One of the lucky ones.
I was officially done with treatment in February 2018, on my best friend’s and my doctor’s birthday. I think that’s a bit poetic, don’t you think. My best friend and I have been soul mates, friends, and sisters since I was four years old, and she and the man who saved my life share a birthday. The following month, she gave birth to my godson and gave him my name as his middle name. I get to see him grow up, and hopefully, I will for a long time.
None of that would be possible without my doctors, but also without donations, not just money, but blood and platelets. I had hundreds of blood transfusions while going through treatment. It kept me alive while the chemo did its thing. Due to covid, there is a nationwide shortage of blood products. So if you’re still here reading this, I ask you to consider donating if you can.
Blood, platelets, cord, bone marrow, if you do, you will save someone’s life—the way people saved mine.
I’m leaving links to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and The American Red Cross below.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society + American Red Cross
