We're used to folks coming here when they can't turn to family and friends...we know that those who've not been down this road simply don't have the insight that you need.  So I don't think anyone was taking your desire to come here wrong.  In fact, it's good to see you, though I wish it were with a different report.  I think that all came out wrong but I hope you know what I mean.

I'm sure you know how rare CMML is.  It's rare enough we don't see much of it around here.  I don't know if any of us can reply to the specificties of the disease.  I do know that they prefer a low (<5%) blast count before doing a transplant.  But that by no means indicates a transplant can't happen with higher blast counts.  It's going to come down to a number of factors the doctors will have to assess.

It does sound like his treatment is similar to that of AML.  If that's the case and the disease is similar at this point, they could very likely do another induction round to try to get him into remission...that is if this round doesn't work and the BMB results will be the best indicator, I think.

Please let us know how ya'll are doing.

Blessings

I am so sorry to hear this. As a wife I can presume how do you feel. I don't nothing about CMML, my husband was dx CML, which I understand is something diffrent. I can't say anything about  the treatment. I gave up my work, when Adam was dx. I just   staying at home and looking after him. Few times during last three years I was thinking about back to work, but always something had hapened with Adam. But I am absolutely don't regret.I was happy  and I am happy that we have so many time for ourselves as never before his dx. I trying to reach my strength from the fact that we had (have) very good life together, sometime it;s help, sometime only xanax allow me  to keep myself going. Take care. Marta

Lovey, while I'm not knowledgeable about CMML, I had AML that was treated with chemo, then relapsed two years later, and had a BMT. But to get back into remission the second time around was definitely harder; the first induction didn't do it for me, it only knocked my blasts down from 25% to 20%. So I had a second induction, with Idarubicine, Ara-C, and Mylotarg, which did the trick. My point is, when you've relapsed, it is pretty common to have a second or third induction, or more, before getting the blasts down below 5%, and ready for transplant. And sometimes transplants are done with folks not quite in remission. As I said, I don't know much about CMML, but there are probably other tricks up Burt's doctors' sleeves (and other chemo regimens), so don't lose hope, not at all. Patience is tough during this time, but try not to get discouraged. I would go so far as to say that many of us have needed more than one induction to achieve remission after relapse, not just a few.

Do consider FMLA, Burt will need a dedicated caregiver post-transplant. It's great that you have family support, and the matching sister to boot! Mine was an unrelated donor. I only have one sister and she had the unmitigated gall not to match me! So anyway, Burt's ahead of the game there.

I had headaches for weeks after transplant, sort of vague ones, plus an increase in my migraines that I'd had pre-leukemia. They eventually go away (tho I still get migraines). I think chemo contributes to headaches, plus who knows what after transplant, the plethora of drugs we take then, just the transformation your body goes through after a transplant---who knows, but I remember the headaches. But the thing is, they do go away eventually.

Happy anniversary, and I say that knowing that this is not how anybody would want to spend it. But you have each other, you have good doctors with a plan, you have a matching sibling donor---you will probably find yourselves closer than ever despite (or because of) what's going on. I often reflect that for my husband and I, the last 3 1/2  of our 26 years together have in many ways been the closest. When leukemia hit and my husband became my dedicated caregiver, I kind of fell in love all over again. You can't spin everything about this predicament positively, but there are some surprises in this....anyway, hold each other close today and enjoy the day however you can.

And know that we'll be here to support you and Burt in whatever ways we can.

Take care,

Pam

Well, the peripheral blasts are bouncing around.  Don't know how much stock I'd put in that.  Did you not get a written report on the BMB?  If not, ask for one.  That will keep youfrom having to wait another two weeks.

I was going to suggest a tape recorder, too.  Or maybe you could get a roll away and spend a night there?  At least you could ask the doc to give you a call.  S/he might not, but it's always worth a try,

I think Kelly's idea about giving questions to a nurse is good.  But ask the nurse to flag it as s/he likely won't be the one on duty when the doc comes in at 6:00.

I did have AML so that does explain why the protocol sounds familiar.

Keep us posted.

Blessings

Lovey,

I remember corresponding with you on the CMML message board.  I believe you lived in Philadelphia at one time.  Even though I don't know how much help I can be with medical advice, I wanted you to know that I am wishing you and Burt well.  You will get great help from the very knowledgeable folks on this message board.  Please feel free to email me if you care to.

Ten percent blasts in the marrow isn't great, but by no means is it terrible.  So many folks have higher blasts and wind up getting through this.  If this remains the case, they'll probably want to give him abother round of chemo to try to kill it off.

One thing I want to stress, he will only benefit if he exercises.  Getting him up and walking will, in the long run, strengthen hi body and lift some of the fatigue.  Walking like a fiend helped me immensely.  See what you can do to get him up a few times a day.  Start little but aim big.

Blessings