My Dad has lukemia

[bushbaby 8]

So my sister calls me Friday and half crying says that I need to call my father. Well of course I ask her what is wrong, my father is 76 and many things ail him but nothing serious ... that is until now. So I get off the phone and call my dad who is trying to be his ussual chipper self. He tells me after a few pleasantries that he has been diagnosed with lukemia. Now I am scared to death, but I didn't think he needed to hysterical daugters. SO I remined him that our family is strong and we beat cancer...only thing is, I don't really believe it. My Aunt just died last year after fighting breast cancer for 5 years...and while I am fine I had the baby of cancer. They took it out and I had no residual effects. What the hell is lukemia anyway... I know we have a few nurses on this board and I would appriciate the information. I am not freaking out... but I haven't done any reasearch on the net yet... I guess I am too scared about what I will find out. Hell I don't even know how a person fights it. Radiation...sucks, but kemo sucks more.... Thanks in advance for the help. :think

[New Hope 37]

Rica, luekemia is white blood cells run amuk and destroys the red blood cells. Treatments for this disease have come along remarkably. Bone marrow transplants are now a common routine (in a controlled environment) that destroys the patient's sick cells and replaces them with healthy cells from a donor (delivered through a i.v. drip). It is easiest to find someone in the family to match and become the living donor. The marrow is extracted from the donor's hip bone. The donor will be sore a few days, but the marrow replenishes itself. But if no one in the family matches, the data can be entered into the National Bone Marrow Foundation. Also, friends can come forward to be crossmatched. (That is just a blood test at that point - checking for compatibility.) Please know that I am sending (((hugs))) and prayers for you, your Dad, and your family during this trying time. I am hoping that you will get quick, positive answers to help your Dad regain his health. Please keep us posted!

[Zoe 6]

Oh Rica, I'm sorry to hear your sad news. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, "Leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) of the bone marrow and blood. It is characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells."

Here are two internet sites with leukemia info: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00351 (gives basics) and http://www.leukemia.org/hm_lls (has lots of detailed links).

This isn't much, but it's a place to start. I hope your father feels better soon.

[Iluvharleys 15]

My thoughts and prayers are with you Rica. Please keep us posted on you Dad.

[leatha_g 4]

Rica,

I'm really sorry to hear of your father's diagnosis. I truly hope that he is able to beat this. Having said that, I'd also like to add that there is a form of 'leukemia' (and I'll try to find it) that apparently hits men of a certain age, usually older. My uncle has this type of leukemia and at the moment, I don't recall the actual name of it, but I can tell you my uncle is 81 years old, goes dancing every weekend and is in better health than his younger brothers and sisters.

I certainly don't want to minimize your father's diagnosis, but I don't want you to lose hope either. I'll be sending up prayers for your father and your family as you get it all sorted out.

((((((((((RICA))))))))))

[La_madam 20]

Rica

I'm very sorry to hear the news of your father's Leukemia

Just to let you know though my son had leukemia and is in remission. They have made great strides in the cure for leukemia in the last 20 years.... 20 years ago yes I would of been worried about my son dying from leukemnia but now the success rate is over 80% and he is living proof. I will keep you in my thoughts and if you ever need to have any questions answered..feel free to email me, I know all there is to know about leukemia. Be strong

(((hugs))

[adoorme9 0]

hi, Rica

don't know much about leukemia, sorry ,

my prays and my thought are with your father,

my dad is about the same age and i love the rascual. so i know is hard on you and the family right now....but,remmber, don't forget, to becareful in what you eat and drink, emoitions will run high and you need a level head about yourself, and your band. going out with the family to eat, and the stress of it, you might over eat, just an oz. or 2. you might be able to take it , but, your little tummy might not.

so please, becareful, and you try to get better and get some rest you will need it in the days to come...

------------------------

margie,

4/5/04

295/-35.6

[claraluz 2]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I know how stressful a parent's illness can be. There are a few different forms of leukemia. Some are very curable and the others are more difficult to beat, but still possible to beat. Sending your family best wishes for a good outcome.

Nancy

[Rebeccalee 2]

Sorry to hear your father is facing this, as well as the rest of the family. I worry about my parents all the time now that they have entered their 70s. I hope your father feels all right and manages to overcome this disease. I hope you will have a chance to see him soon, too. Take care.

[Alexandra 55]

Rica, I know how hard it is when a parent is sick. My heart is with you and your family as they face this challenge.

[lauri 0]

My heart goes out to you. I will keep you in my prayers. Anytime you need to talk you know we are all here for you.

[Penni60 45]

Rica:

I was a Bone Marrow Transplant Nurse for 8 years. I was one at Vanderbilt for 4 and helped establish the BMT Unit at the Nashville VA hospital and worked there for an additional 4 years.

I have seen many success stories with Leukemias, Lymphomas, Hodkins Disease treated with Bone Marrow Transplants. I won't lie to you either. I have seen just as many failures as well.

At the most, you put the treatment in the hands of the doctors and nurses and place faith in Heaven to do what HE wills.

Since I stopped being a cancer nurse there has been great leaps and hurdles jumped in the treatment of All forms of cancer. They are not only revising the Bone Marrow Transplant process for Allogeneic patients (people that get marrow from unrelated donors) but for Autologous patients (people that get their own marrow). THey are now doing Stem Cell Transplants.

The type of treatments depends on the stage of Leukemia and the particular type of leukemia. There are several kinds.

Here are just a few.

ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia)

AML (Acute Myelogonous Leukemia)

CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

CML or CGL (Chronic Myelogonous or Granulocytic Leukemia)

Hodgkins Disease

Non-Hodgkins Disease

Aplastic Anemia

There are more but they elude me for now. Happy to try to answer any questions but the one that you should be asking is his doctor.

My prayers and thoughts and support are going out to you and your family.

{{{{{{{{{{RICA & FAMILY}}}}}}}}}}}

[bushbaby 8]

Thanks everyone....(tears) I feel like this the one place that I can share my tears. I am trying to be strong for my dad and family. They have always thought of me as the strong one. I don't know what kind of lukemia it is yet, but I am hopeful. If he needs a little marrow he has a lot of children and one of us is bound to match (crossing fingers) Right? It's funny how one day you can be "Gosh I wish I would lose this next 10lbs" and the next realize how unimportant it all is. Don't get me wrong this band has saved my life, but I would trade it in a moment for the health of my dad... (sniff, sniff)

Thanks for all the support I have been given and all the information. You have given me more hope... I will be positive! I will stay strong! I am just so damn scared!

[sassaay 1]

Rica,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry that you and your family have to go through this, please stay strong and remember we are here if you need support.

Take Care,

[blossom 2]

Rica,

I am so sorry to hear this news. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.