Hi Aung,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom's diagnosis.  I'm not a doctor, but it's my understanding that idarubicin and danorubicin are pretty similar.  Combining one or the other with cytarabine is the standard induction chemotherapy in the US for AML.  Has she begun treatment yet?

- WBF

Hello Aung - I am very sorry to read about your mother. My 87 year old father has AML M1 but I can not answer your questions about idarubicin and daunorubicin.

I would just like to mention to you that your mother has a better chance at being cured using chemotherapy than someone much older like my father.  My father is on the drug Vidaza because more serious chemotherapy treatment would have been too much for his body.  My family and I decided on this treatment knowing that he will likely not be completely cured - - we are just following his wishes to keep him alive but as comfortable and normal as possible until such time as he passes on.

I sincerely hope treatment for your mother goes well and I will include you in my prayers.  good luck. sincerely, john f.

Daunorubicin is what I had with cytarabine for my induction chemo.  As many have said the 2 are very similar and used for standard treatment in the US.  Mine was M1 though with normal chromosomes.  Your doctor will be able to tell you more after they get results of bone marrow test. Hang in there.

The docs will take care of any preparation necessary and let you know what you might want to do at home when she's ready to go there.  Here in the States they do bone marrow biopsies on Day 14 and Day 28.  I imagine that's what they'll do at home, too.  It's [pretty standard.  That will be your earliest indications of how she's doing so far as remission goes.

There's little risk during chemo.  But getting through chemo isn't all there is.  I think these are good questions but her doctors will do a better job of answering them.

Hope all goes well.  Please let us know how she's doing.

Blessings

Hi Aung,

It's just going to be important that your Mom tries to keep eating - her taste buds will be affected by the chemo and that will make food taste funny, plus if she's anything like I was, she won't want to eat.  They have medications to help with nausea, so I wasn't overly nauseated, but I had no interest in eating whatsoever and had to force myself to eat because I didn't have a lot to lose, either.  I'm thinking of her and sending good thoughts her way - hope she breezes through the treatment and achieves remission. 

Please keep us posted on how she's doing.

- WBF

My husband with M5 just started treatment yesterday Danorubicin- Cytarabine combo.

From what I hear this is one of the proven protocols that has been on a market for decades.

I'm sure it will work for your mom!

Take a good care of her!

Hugs and prayers!