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In remission from ALL (leukaemia) for just over a year and now relapsed but it's AML, has anyone seen/had this??

30 replies

hazlinh · 26/05/2013 03:10

DD (9) was diagnosed with ALL 3 years ago, did 2 years of chemo and was in remission and we were just starting to enjoy life as normal when her blood counts started dropping for no reason so her oncologist did a bone marrow and informed us that she has relapsed but that it is no longer ALL but it is AML now. He said he has never seen this in his 40 years of being an oncologist so I don't know what to think. A day before that he said it biphenotypic leukaemia (a combination of ALL + AML) which is very rare and possibly even worse? so I really didn't know what to think when he told us the next day it is just AML. When I asked if it was better, he said both were no good. Anyway, I tried googling but my mind is in a daze and I just couldn't sift through the literature properly. Has anyone had this? What treatment was given? I am really hoping for some good news. It seems that DD will do a few weeks of chemo and may need a transplant. Needless to say we are all shocked and devastated.

OP posts:
WouldBeHarrietVane · 26/05/2013 08:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShiftyFades · 26/05/2013 08:23

No experience but couldn't read and run. ((((Hug))) to you Sad

gordonpym · 26/05/2013 14:18

Same as above, didn't want to leave your post unanswered.
In general health, there is a TAMOXIFEN thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1752786--The-36th-TAMOXIFEN-thread with plenty of experienced MNetters. Maybe somebody there has the answers you're looking for.

NorthernLurker · 26/05/2013 17:23

I'm sorry to read your dd has relapsed. Please don't google - it's not the way to get information applicable to your dd. Do you have a good relationship with your GP? That would be one way of having discussions to sift through things a bit - ask them to find out more on your behalf and then sit down with them.

StealthPolarBear · 26/05/2013 17:28

So sorry to read this. Is it possible to get a second opinion as it sounds like your DD is a very rare case - strikes me the more experienced people who get a chance to give their opinion, the better.

acebaby · 26/05/2013 22:53

I remember your original thread from three years ago, and I'm sorry to hear this. I just wanted to say that there is a children with cancer thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/1368190-Children-with-cancer

I'm sure that the parents on there would be a wonderful source of support for you.

lougle · 26/05/2013 23:15

I'm so sorry to hear this. I agree that google is not going to give you specific information.

When is your next appointment?

labtest · 27/05/2013 08:39

I'm so sorry to hear this. My daughter is 2 years into treatment for ALL and relapse is my biggest fear. At the centre we are treated at there is a little boy who two years after treatment for ALL relapsed with AML. I think he had the MLL gene and his original diagnosis was infant ALL. He has had a bone marrow transplant and doing well almost a year later. Again I'm really sorry that this has happened and hope the next stage of treatment goes well.

Letitsnow9 · 27/05/2013 23:29

Yes I know a child who had ALL, relapsed with aml and had a wilms tumour too! She's a grown up now, or late teens. Turned out to be a genetic thing

NorthernLurker · 28/05/2013 08:42

letitsnow9 - do you know where that girl was treated? The OP is likely to want as much detail as possible I think.

labtest · 28/05/2013 13:39

The child I know was treated at the RVI in Newcastle which is where my daughter is treated.

Letitsnow9 · 28/05/2013 15:18

The child I mentioned is American. She was treated on a standard protocol for ALL, then when she relapsed with AML she had a transplant (using cord blood). She has a gene, will go and find what it is

Letitsnow9 · 28/05/2013 15:25

She's in 9th grade now so is 14/15 I think, just it helps to know how old she was at the time

ALL Leukemia, With a mediastinal mass, diagnosed September 29, 2002.

She has homozygous defects in her BRCA-2 gene. The BRCA-2 gene is so rare that the doctor's have only found 14-15 cases in the whole world. If you know anyone with BRCA-2 gene disorder please e-mail us.

November 10th, 2003, The doctors found out that she had, Angiomatous Venous Malformation

FEBRUARY 29th 2004 aml.

APRIL 19th 2004 wilms tumor

MAY 25th 2004 Bloodcord transplant

Lilymaid · 28/05/2013 15:27

There's a long standing support thread called Children with Cancer . Not sure whether any of their DC have had ALL change to AML but the posters may know of other children they have come across in hospital.
(I have a DS with CML ... but that is a different and fortunately easily treatable leukaemia).

DianaTrent · 28/05/2013 17:13

There is a very good listserv on ACOR, called ALL-KIDS, there are a lot of very experienced oncology parents there who have seen most things. I am on my phone so can't link it for you right now, but will find it for you later. I remember your original thread, hazlinh, although I have nced since then. My DD had a diagnosis of ALL in late 2009. I am really sorry you are facing a new battle now. Thanks

DianaTrent · 29/05/2013 10:58

The Web site is www.all-kids.org, there is also a dedicated listserv for relapsed kids on ACOR. I hope you get the support and answers you need. Wishing you all the very best for her treatment

hazlinh · 30/05/2013 07:30

Thanks so much everyone. Sorry I haven't been able to post any replies as it has been a crazy week. We are in Singapore now. We were in Malaysia last week when dd was diagnosed as having relapsed. DH works in Singapore (previously Malaysia) and his insurance was not accepted in Malaysia (despite being a global one, covering one of the biggest banks in the world), so combined with the fact that the doctor said he had not seen this before, we decided to seek treatment in Singapore. The doctor was happy for us to do so, as her test results are often sent to Singapore so they already have all her files, and he says they are more advanced in terms of treatments and transplants, and he has friends in Singapore whom he has referred several patients to before, when he could not cope and they could afford to go to Singapore. She has no siblings so in the likely event she may need a transplant, Singapore can do a half-match parent transplant from me or DH, which Malaysia cannot do. So we were discharged from the hospital in KL on Saturday, and given an appointment in Singapore on Monday, so I barely had a day to pack.

Northernlurker, yes googling was probably not a good idea, I could not eat anything after googling, I was sick to my stomach.

Acebaby, thanks so much for remembering. You have an amazing memory! I have been busy with chemo and trying to get back into 'normal' life, so I have not really been on MN much since dd was diagnosed.

Labtest, did he do chemo for AML before the transplant, do you know? So it is not that rare then? I hope all goes well for you and dd. Just out of curiousity, does anyone recommend taking any supplements or anything in the uk after chemo? Supplements are such a big thing here, almost all the other parents make their kids take all sorts, from wild cactus juice to pomeganate juice and such, but dd always refused to take anything, so I never pushed her. Am wondering if it makes any difference.

Letitsnow9, thanks so much for the info. I too am wondering if it is a genetic thing for my dd. It just seems so unfair that no one else in her ward has had this, why did it have to happen to her. Am so glad that the girl you mentioned is doing well. The doctors said dd does have the option of doing a cord blood transplant esp since she has no siblings. Either that or half-matched parent. Would you happen to have an email for the girls's parents? I would like to contact them if they are ok with it.

Lilymaid, thanks and all the best to you and DS

Dianatrent, thanks so much, I have joined them, and am trying to figure out how it works! It sounds very useful. What is nced, by the way? Sorry about your DD, hope she is well.

OP posts:
hazlinh · 30/05/2013 07:32

Oh, and we are awaiting the results of a repeat bone marrow test they did in singapore...so nothing's happening yet. but if it is confirmed AML, they have asked us if we want to go with the standard treatment for aml, or to join a clinical study using clofarabine (usually used for patients who have had aml, and then relapsed with aml again). Does anyone have any thoughts on this???

OP posts:
Letitsnow9 · 30/05/2013 20:21

I've private messaged you details

youarewinning · 30/05/2013 20:28

Another who couldn't read and run. No experience or helpful advice but wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you and wishing you all the best,

sassytoo · 30/05/2013 20:47

Have you tried contacting leukaemia and lymphoma research? They have patient information contacts that might be able to help or just to offer support. Their website is www.leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk

labtest · 30/05/2013 21:06

Hazlinh, as far as I'm aware he had enough chemo to get back into and keep him in remission until a stem cell donor was found. I dont think he had the standard AML six month treatment though.He had the transplant last July and so far it's been a great success. He had been in remission two years when he relapsed and like you his mother was shocked that it was AML not ALL. I know he had the mll gene but I'm not sure if that made him more susceptible to both types.
I really hope all goes well for your daughter. It's awful and grossly unfair that she is having to go through this.

hazlinh · 31/05/2013 07:11

Thanks letitsnow9, got it...am reading her blog and have sent her an email....

Thanks youarewinning...

sassytoo, ah ok will give that a try

labtest, thanks much. would u happen to know which drugs they put him on? thank you...

OP posts:
labtest · 31/05/2013 08:38

I'm not sure but will message his mam on FB and let you know.

labtest · 31/05/2013 08:58

I've just heard back from my friend and her son had two intensive courses of chemo followed by a third course to prevent relapse while he waited for a do or. She said he was still classed as having infant leukaemia (probably because of mll gene) so it was different from standard treatment. The chemo had a three lett name but she cannot remember it. Sorry I can't be more help.

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