My doc at the University of Chicago Medical Center indicated that my disease may be transforming into Acute Myeloid Leukemia. (1) I have been battling persistent fevers which may indicate a progression of the disease. (2) There are immature blood cells, called blasts, in the blood stream. Three times worse than it was just a month ago. (3) I have nucleated red blood cells in my blood as well. Don't ask me what that is. All I know is that it isn't at all good. It started in September with numbers in the single digits. Now, the range is 66 to 143. (4) Rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells. Right now, we don't know if the the cells are abnormal, but we know that my white blood count has been increased 5 fold in the last few weeks. There may be a 5th indicator: The time span between blood transfusions may be getting much shorter.
In recent weeks, I also have a problem with weight loss. When I am overly fatigued or running a temperature (which is daily), I have no appetite. So when I feel reasonably good, I try to eat as much as possible to compensate for the times when I just can't eat at all. Since the beginning of the disease, I have lost 52 pounds.
My understanding is that when Myelodysplastic Syndrome transforms into Acute Myeloid Leukemia, my time on earth significantly shortens. I have no complaints. I was lucky enough to see all of 2009. I made the most of every precious day. It is doubtful, however, that I will see another Spring.
Life is hard, but life is good.
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