How long will it take for leukemia to regenerate ?
i finished the 2nd block of chemo 2 weeks ago and now they can't start the 3rd block due to low white blood count i am afraid now that leukemia might relapse without treatment
I have ALL
yeah the chemo worked and i am in remission as far as i know but it's been a long time since they took a bone marrow sample as well
- Brian
This is interesting because usually they want to kill off those cells. I had to go through chemo and the point of it basically to destroy white blood cells and it kills your immune system. Anyway, there is no set timetable for it regenerate. Are you in remission? Or has the chemo worked? If so, there is a chance that it won't regenerate at all. It just depends on the individual person.
Another suggestion for you: Check into stem cell transplants. I had one for my Crohn's disease and it did wonders for me! They also do them for chemo patients sometimes. I know many that have gone into total remission. This is an option if the chemo doesn't work. Just keep that in your head if you happen to need another treatment. The place I went to was Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, ILL. The Doctor's name was Dr. Richard Burt. They are doing all kinds of things with stem cell transplants and finding people going into remission. Some people believe they are cured. Stay strong and do a lot of research. There are MANY doctors out there, and it's good to find the best, and to even find more than one.
- matador 89
Tim,
You state that you "..have ALL." Whatever you infer, I shall presume that you have AML. You must, surely, be aware of the treatment regimen for this disease and if not, then you really ought to enquire from your oncologist/medical team. Basically, There are three basic stages of treatment for AML, namely, 1. Remission induction. 2. Consolidation therapy. 3. Maintenance therapy. The purpose of the first run of chemotherapy is to make the disease go away (induce a remission). This goal is achieved when the blood counts are normalized and there is no evidence of leukemia in the blood or bone marrow. This phase of treatment may last from one to three months. About 80 to 85% of patients achieve a complete response with aggressive chemotherapy. However, the disease will come back shortly after if no further chemotherapy is used. Some leukemia cells may be left behind but they cannot be detected or seen under microscope. I shall not discuss the drugs that are normally used, as this is not relevant to your question. Suffice it to say that this regimen is highly toxic and will cause severe anaemia, low white count and low platelet count. Most patients will need blood and platelet transfusions, as well as intravenous antibiotics and intravenous nutrition. To facilitate the treatments, every patient should have a Central Venous Access Line (or a similar device) prior to initiation of chemotherapy or very soon after. There are other potential complications of AML and its treatment, which also is not part of your question and should be dealt with by your 'team.' With regard to the central theme of your question, "Low White Blood Count," the White Blood Cells reach their lowest levels in the second or third week after chemotherapy, which appears to be consistent with the details that you have provided. As the bone marrow cells recover from the effects of chemotherapy, the WBC count starts to rise again. Before each cycle of chemotherapy, blood counts are verified to ensure that they have returned to the normal range. White blood cells are responsible for protecting the body from infections. When WBC counts are low, there is an increased risk of infections. These infections cannot be easily controlled by the body because of the low counts. However, low counts do not always lead to infections. Nearly all people on chemotherapy have low counts during chemotherapy. But only a few people develop infections. At regular intervals during chemotherapy, the doctor should advise blood tests to check cell counts. These tests are called 'CBCs' or 'Haemograms.' I wish you well.
ALL ANSWERS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED, IN ANY FORUM AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS ONE. - MANY ANSWERS ARE FLAWED.
It is extremely important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before trying to find a cure. Many diseases and conditions share common symptoms.
The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
Hope this helps
matador 89
Leukemia — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, risk factors, treatment of this blood-related cancer.
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