Wellllll...it could be better. It could be a whole lot better. My chromosomal tests came back with the dreaded monosomy 7. This means that, in the cancerous cells, chromosome 7 is missing its pair. I'm no geneticist. I don't even know if I spelled geneticist correctly. But I hear monosomy 7 type AML is very resistant to treatment. As in very difficult to get into remission.
So what does that mean?
I told you about those three risk groups (favorable, intermediate, and unfavorable). This places me squarely in the unfavorable group. There was a study done on ten people under the age of 60 who had this type of AML who underwent treatment. After four years, two of them were still alive. This study represents the most optimistic odds of survival. I guess with monosomy 7, age isn't really a helpful factor.
What happens now?
I'm going to go through this round of chemo as expected. Hopefully that will get me into remission. But regardless, I will be looking for a stem cell donor and if all goes really smoothly I could be traveling to Seattle for the transplant in 4 to 6 weeks. I'm hoping one of my brothers will be a match. Assuming one of them is, he will go to Seattle with me and we will undergo an extensive process that I haven't fully wrapped my head around. Oh, I just learned that stem cell transplant and bone marrow transplant are just two names for the same thing. I guess a long time ago people would take bone marrow from one person and jam it into the receiver's bones. Now what happens is blood from the donor gets processed and filtered in a very specialized way, and this is what gets injected into the bones of the receiver.
I would undergo an even more extensive chemotherapy that would completely obliterate my bone marrow, then my brother's stem cells would be gently placed into my bones where they would grow and thrive. What this really is is an immune system transplant. Basically, my immune system didn't get the memo that monosomy 7 is a total assfucker and needs to be killed on sight. Hopefully my brother's immune system knows better. So by having his system take over inside my body, he can take over the fight for my ill-equipped JV team. Am I telling ISIS jokes now?
Anyway, once his stuff is in me, and even before, I will be a bubble boy. Bubble girl. And there will be a very delicate period where we see if he kills just the bad cells, or if he also kills other parts of my body that he doesn't recognize. It sounds like this is about a six month process. Six months in Seattle.
Anyone have any recommendations for Seattle nightlife?
I hope this post doesn't cause me to lose my readership. I know not everyone likes to read depressing news about the increasing likelihood of death. But guess what? If you're reading this, you're not going to get out alive either.
So just bare with me. Let's see where this goes, shall we?
So what does that mean?
I told you about those three risk groups (favorable, intermediate, and unfavorable). This places me squarely in the unfavorable group. There was a study done on ten people under the age of 60 who had this type of AML who underwent treatment. After four years, two of them were still alive. This study represents the most optimistic odds of survival. I guess with monosomy 7, age isn't really a helpful factor.
What happens now?
I'm going to go through this round of chemo as expected. Hopefully that will get me into remission. But regardless, I will be looking for a stem cell donor and if all goes really smoothly I could be traveling to Seattle for the transplant in 4 to 6 weeks. I'm hoping one of my brothers will be a match. Assuming one of them is, he will go to Seattle with me and we will undergo an extensive process that I haven't fully wrapped my head around. Oh, I just learned that stem cell transplant and bone marrow transplant are just two names for the same thing. I guess a long time ago people would take bone marrow from one person and jam it into the receiver's bones. Now what happens is blood from the donor gets processed and filtered in a very specialized way, and this is what gets injected into the bones of the receiver.
I would undergo an even more extensive chemotherapy that would completely obliterate my bone marrow, then my brother's stem cells would be gently placed into my bones where they would grow and thrive. What this really is is an immune system transplant. Basically, my immune system didn't get the memo that monosomy 7 is a total assfucker and needs to be killed on sight. Hopefully my brother's immune system knows better. So by having his system take over inside my body, he can take over the fight for my ill-equipped JV team. Am I telling ISIS jokes now?
Anyway, once his stuff is in me, and even before, I will be a bubble boy. Bubble girl. And there will be a very delicate period where we see if he kills just the bad cells, or if he also kills other parts of my body that he doesn't recognize. It sounds like this is about a six month process. Six months in Seattle.
Anyone have any recommendations for Seattle nightlife?
I hope this post doesn't cause me to lose my readership. I know not everyone likes to read depressing news about the increasing likelihood of death. But guess what? If you're reading this, you're not going to get out alive either.
So just bare with me. Let's see where this goes, shall we?
 |
| Hopefully, here (Amie's office) |
Shit. Sarah, I'm so sorry you got dealt this crappy hand. I'm in the Be The Match registry, on the off chance you and I are compatible. Listen, I know I haven't seen you in years, but while you're stuck in the hospital in Denver, if you need/want/are able to have company, shoot me a message. I'd be happy to drop by and talk your ear off to help pass the time.
ReplyDeleteAlso - I have 3 dog loving kids and am in Littleton once a week. Dog walker/cuddler at your service if you need!
ReplyDeleteI'm making a monosomy 7 hate group.
ReplyDeleteWe're still with you, Sarah. And you should be seeing a small package on Saturday (which is already today where you are, and isn't the bad date it sounds like).
ReplyDeleteThinking of you Sarah. Cancer sucks!!! Too many people getting it. Know that there are many people out here who care and support you. Whatever you need you ask. Feel free to let me know if there's anything you need. I live close by your house in Broomfield and could clean or whatever you need, just let me know.
ReplyDeleteSeattle isn't so far. Can we come visit the bubble girl?
ReplyDelete(This is Christine Olsen, btw. I can't tell if this thing is giving me a name.)
It's so unfair. Thank you for creating this blog and having us here, Sarah. I didn't know you are such a great writer. The topic sucks, but no one is going anywhere. A lot of people love you and support you in this. Thinking of you and hoping for a lot better news for you soon💛
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello Sarah. I am sorry to hear of your unfavorable grouping. This sucks. You are a unique unicorn, the most unique unicorn in the whole universe. I know because I teach at university, where we study unique unicorns in the universe. Stay strong my unicorn!
ReplyDeleteHang tight Sarah, thanks for bogging about lame c#$%^!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry Sarah that this is happening to you. It is not fair at all! I don't know what to say or how to say it, but I do want you to know I am here for you. I am thinking of you and and know that many people out here are doing so too. Please let me know if I can help in any way. I live in Broomfield and am willing to help you with anything you might need!
ReplyDelete. It raises many questions and provides possible clues in order to do controlled studies. By the way, I did find one other case in blood cancer sucks
ReplyDelete