Son recently diagnosed

On 8/6/2008 NancyFlip wrote:

My son was recently diagnosed with CML. His is 20 years old and this has come as a complete shock to family and friends. He is scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy on Friday and is terrified to say the least. He has not yet started his gleevec and we are trying to be hopeful. Any information is appreciated.

This is surely a tough time for you all.  Just keep taking things day by day, or if needed - hour by hour, or even minute by minute.  Especially for your son - tell him all he has to do is get thru the minute that is in front of him. (Don't borrow trouble from tomorrow, for today has worries enough of its own. _ that applies to hours and minutes, too.)

For both you and your son, when things get tough, step back a moment, take a couple of big deep breaths, refocus, and then move on.  No sense letting things overwhelm you, cause the only thing you can control is the moment you're in right now, and controlling that moment well will help to make the next moment better than the last.

Once you and he feel more in control - as you will, it will get easier to start looking at the larger picture.

I wish you well - hang in there.  Lots of us have learned how to kick cancer in the butt, and you will too!

Sincerely, Tre

On 8/6/2008 NancyFlip wrote:

My son was recently diagnosed with CML. His is 20 years old and this has come as a complete shock to family and friends. He is scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy on Friday and is terrified to say the least. He has not yet started his gleevec and we are trying to be hopeful. Any information is appreciated.

Hi Nancy:  Sorry to hear your son was diagnosed with CML, and only 20 years old.  The good news is that the Gleevec should put him into remission very quickly.  Is this his first Biopsy?  How did they find the CML?  With me they suspected CML due to my counts in my blood work, and then they did the bone marrow biopsy to be sure.  Tell him not to be scared of the biopsy.  They always sedated me into a twilight type sleep, and they numb the area.  It does not take long to do it.  Being he is so young, he has options I am sure for treatment.  I was diagnosed in 1998, and Gleevec was not available yet.  I did not do well, until I got on the Gleevec in Oct. of 2000, and I was in remission by July of 2001.  I thank God everyday that here it is 2008, and I am still in remission.  I am 60 years old.  I was not a candidate for a Bone Marrow Transplant.  Try to stay positive for him, and it will make him positive too.  Its amazing what positive attitude can do.  You can write to me at my e-mail address if you need some suppport.  I will be glad to answer you anytime. 

   I will pray for your son.

                                                     Suzzie

Thanks for your response. They didn't sedate my son for his marrow biopsy.It was very painful for him but he made it through. He started his gleevec last week and his counts are going down. His speen is very enlarged and we hope to see it go down as the gleevec takes effect. Your in our prayers as well and thanks for responding.

Nancy

On 8/14/2008 NancyFlip wrote:

Thanks for your response. They didn't sedate my son for his marrow biopsy.It was very painful for him but he made it through. He started his gleevec last week and his counts are going down. His speen is very enlarged and we hope to see it go down as the gleevec takes effect. Your in our prayers as well and thanks for responding.

 

 

Nancy

Hi Nancy.

 I am 22 years old and was diagnosed with CML a year ago. I can completely understand how your son is feeling and ofcourse the rest of the family.

I also had an enlarged spleen but it went after a month of being on gleevec. I took the news well at first then went into a state of depression. This is the age where your son and I should be having fun and not having to deal with such a diagnosis, but with the help of my family, friends, doctor ad councellor I am recovering mentally.

The TWO things that keep me going is ONE my LORD JESUS and TWO knowing that Gleevec is a powerful drug and in a way myself and your son are luccky we were diagnosed after it was developed otherwise we would have had to get a bone marrow transplant and that in itself has major risks i.e Death.

Please tell your son That I know what he is going through 100% and please tell him to get a councellor, it is so good to have someone outside of the family and friends circle to TALK to and I guess just CRY. It has helped me and I am sure will with him. He is in my prayers and I know we will all get through this.

p.s: GOD does  not put us through anything that we cannot handle...believe that and it is ok to be scared but all happens for a reason. Take care.

x D