First off Rick They have to make sure you're body can withstand the Chemo.How old are you by the way??They call it you're performance staus depending on what Chemo regime they will give you.Some Chemo's are cardio-toxic/some are toxic to you're liver/or kidney's etc.So they want to know that you're body can hold up.That may be the reason for the delay.

I was caregiver, along with my husband, to our son while he was in treatment. (five rounds of chemo spinkled with lots of BMB and port changes.All five rounds - inpatient.) I had a lot of questions. Some may already be posted above, but I thought I'd tell you what I found myself doing and asking.

1.) I always asked at least the same question on separate occaisions to see if I was getting the same answer.

2.) I asked why - why that drug, why that antibiotic. I explained I wasn't being rude, just wanted/needed to understand.

3.) I always asked side affects to everything they put in his body...just to know what to expect.

4.) I always asked the risks vs. the benefits. Even if there was no question I was going to consent, I wanted to understand.

5.) I always asked a nurse to be present with the doctors - esp. in the beginning. When the white coat scurried away, I would often ask - what did that mean? The nurses were always very willing to help me understand.

6.) At first, I asked a lot about stats and figures - but finally realized none of that mattered. No matter how other's responded, my son would respond in his own way.

7.) I asked for a copy of the "road map" and referenced it daily...knowing each day what drugs would be administered and why.

8.) How many blasts did my son have and what does that mean??

9.) What tests will you be doing to determine remission...and how often.

I took a lot of notes and kept a notebook handy so when a question poped up, I could jot  it down and pulled it out when the docs came in. I also kept a count journal on the wall, so - like others have mentioned - I could see the trends. I also noted the days he got blood transfusions, when chemo started and ended, etc. I learned quickly that if I didn't understand something...I would ask again and ask them to explain it to me in laymans terms. Of course, you will need to understand what it means to be nutrapenic...but you'll learn that quickly. You can always come here and ask questions. You've been handed a lot. No one understands right away...but you will be a pro soon. Heck...I couldn't even remember today the name of a single standard antibiotic that a normal person takes...just all the "big guns" given when an infection is suspected.

I hope this helped...or at least gives you something to work from.

Take care and sorry you are having to join us.

Natasha

Just a quick response.  They are taking your blood draws every day, I'm sure.  They used to write my major numbers (WBC, HGB, PLT) on a white board.  You also can ask for a printout every day so you can document them through the process.  This is blood cancer, I woudln't take "good enough" for an answer.  Well, I probably would have but they educated me about it and I wouldn't now.

Just remember to take it at your own pace.  Don't get into information overload.

Blessings

Glad you got a source of info.  The nurses are good and reliable but don't forget to do your reading so far as you can or want to.

Cytabarine and daunorubicin are typical of the 7+3 regimen.  Etoposide is another chemo they obviously felt will give you an added chance of remission and survival but I don't know what it does specifically.  Really don't know what the other two do specifically for that matter.  I just know the they're part of the norm and the other's an extra.

also I'm glad to learn the anti-nausea meds work.  In time they probably won't put you to sleep so easily.

Hang in there and keeping us posted.

Blessings

The bone marrow biopsy report on day 14 Rick, to see if you're in remission is the next step, and then treatment team will procede from there.I hope you are feeling o.k so far, no complications is good.

Ricky, I couldn't agree with Tex more. Although, maybe for different reasons. I would definitely get a second opinion on the autologous transplant. There are a lot of variables, and I am certainly not a doctor, just a patient, but in general auto transplants are not usually the first recommendation for an AML diagnosis. Now having said that, there may be times when they are indicated. You could be in that group. But I think it would be well worth your while to get a second opinion on this----if nothing else, it will confirm what you've been told. But you might get some different advice on what type of transplant to consider, and the more info you have, the better armed you'll be to make a good decision on the best type of treatment.

Insurance companies are usually eager to pay for second opinions, with such a big, costly decision involved. So you shouldn't encounter trouble there.

Keep us posted.

Pam