treatment

Hello - this is my first post. We have a close friend who has AML - he is 74 yrs old, was diagnosed in late Nov, put immediately in the hospital to undergo about 3 weeks of intensive chemo. I don't know exactly what treatment he's had - just know that he was REALLY sick while undergoing toxic chemo treatments.

He was allowed to go home for Christmas. Bone marrow biopsy last week shows no sign of cancer and his platelet count, etc slowly rising. The family is rejoicing.

He reports that, beginning in Jan., he needs to go back in the hospital for "consolidation" treatment to keep the cancer at bay. Can anyone describe wht he's talking about? What is "consolidation" therapy? Why does he need this if there' s no sign of cancer in his bone marrow now?

All I know is that when he was first diagnosed, his wife reported very grim prognosis. I got the idea they thot he was going to die soon. Thx for any info you can give me. I want to understand as best I can - from a distance - so that I can encourage as much as possbile.

hi sorry to hear anybody going through aml consolidation is to get any cells that could possibly be hiding i went through 3 consolidation. and when i was in hospital there was a gentlemen that was 84 years old and did great with treatment and still doing well. so never give up hope i helped you thanks jeff

Thank you, tortios, for responding and encouraging us. I pray for our friend each day and hope that the consolidation treatments lead to remission, if such a thing is possible. I guess I really don't know much about treatments. Our first message from our friend seemed so negative.