An interesting turn of life events

Well, interesting turn of life...... I (Joel) have been diagnosed with a blood disorder condition call MDS the old name is "pre-leukemia", a preliminary report from a BMB (bone marrow biopsy) has confirmed that I am borderline AML (Acute myelogenous leukemia).

Myelodysplastic syndromes are bone marrow stem cell disorders resulting in disorderly and ineffective hematopoiesis (blood production) manifested by irreversible quantitative and qualitative defects in hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells. In a majority of cases, the course of disease is chronic with gradually worsening cytopenias due to progressive bone marrow failure. Approximately one-third of patients with MDS progress to AML within months to a few years.The usual progression of this diesease is into something called AML (see below)Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In AML, the bone marrow makes many unformed cells called blasts. Blasts normally develop into white blood cells that fight infection. However, the blasts are abnormal in AML. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The bone marrow may also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needsI am currently borderline AML, additional evaluation of the bone marrow biopsy will indicate what type or risk factor the MDS is currently in and a prognosis cannot be made until that type is determined, nor can recommended treatment be determined until those tests are in, but will probably include chemotherapy.

The hematologist/oncologist is transferring me to another doctor who specializes in this treatment. I will go and have additional lab work done tomorrow to determine the stability of the MDS and the need for additional transfusions. They have cautioned me about doing anything that may injure myself or be in places where I may pick up an infection.My concern is not death, I see that as a great adventure, but so many "loose ends" and things I want to do. I feel good and do not do well "doing nothing".

Will try to keep this blog up to date as a tool to let everyone who is interested know what is going on and also a resource for others who may be navigating the same waters.