So a lot of you might not be all that familiar with me since I primarily stay in the 10-14 section, but this week I received the biggest blow of my life. I went to my doctor on Tuesday for my normal quarterly required bloodwork. For a long time I've been borderline diabetic so my PCP wants to actively monitor me to make sure it's within control. I'm also transgender, so she also just wants to make sure that my hormonal levels are in check.

Well she called me the next day and requested that I come in the next morning because she thought my blood draw was bad as my white blood cell count jumped from normal levels to FIFTEEN times the norm.

I planned on swinging by the next morning to do another draw, but within an hour she called me and urged me to head straight to the ER because she was very concerned that it wasn't an error.

So I went to George Washington University Hospital, and they rushed me back, and had their hematologist waiting for me. He prepared me for the worst, but did another draw and rushed it back. He was back within 30 minutes confirming that I have Leukemia. They are 95% sure it's Chronic myelogenous leukemia.

They are awaiting the bone marrow biopsy results to come back. They took that Thursday, which was by far the most painful thing I've ever experienced. It's likely that I have the Philadelphia chromosome, which means part of the 9th pair and 22nd pair swapped pieces with each other, and that it just now finally mutated. There is also a good chance that my 23rd pair is also abnormal, making me some form of intersexed which would link directly to being transgender.

They released me late on Thursday (2.20.14), but it seems that at some point that night one of my veins in my left arm finally went kaput after being tapped around six times from tues-thurs. The pain in my arm has actually been masking the pain in my hip/*** from the marrow biopsy, which had been the most painful experience in my life. So it's Sunday, the first time I've actually left bed since being released on Thursday. My arm hurts, my *** hurts, and I'm barely accepting what I've recently been diagnosed with.

I don't know what to do or say right now, other than I feel like I"m just in some sort of daze, and I feel like my entire life has been turned upside down.
I won't know how they will proceed with treating me until they get the results back from my DNA analysis. To top it off, I just got married on 12/30/13 while on a cross country trip/vacation. So I got married along the Pacific Ocean in California, when I live about an hour from the Atlantic here on the east coast.

I'm a mess right now. Thanks for reading.

 

WOW!!!!
That sucks so bad. I am sorry to hear about your ordeal. Try to stay strong and stay positive. I'm not sure if you are a religious person at all, but prayers work wonders, especially during these trying times.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers as well. Good luck Danielle.

 

Terribly sorry to hear and will be pulling for ya to get through it all. With all of the advances in medicine lately, I know it's still not an easy road but one certainly that can be in your favor of beating it.

 

Obviously there is NOTHING that can be said that would be comforting right now, So I won't make the attempt other than the fact that you have MANY friends and supporters here.

If there is ANYTHING I can do to help at all - just let me know. If there is anything I can give (as long as it doesn't physically kill me), be it blood, marrow, whatever - I'm there for you.

 

First things first. Slow the runaway freight train down. Don't let the fear monster program your sub-conscious mind to deliver fearful results.
You're the engineer. You're in charge of your reactions remember? Peace and calming. Mine comes from faith and prayer, which feeds into my focusing on positive outcomes - regardless of any treatment hurdles in between. However I've also learned the past few years that I have to block negatives as well - which often come from medical staff who can be careless in what they say. No, its not 'my' c. I don't own it, I don't claim it! It is an enemy I will defeat because of my spirituality with God, my positive determination, my healthy lifestyle, my great medical team.
Blood profiles can vary. I had a high white count on one. Had nothing to do with leukemia. Wait for the true results. Then you can plan your attack.
Remember - millions are living with various cancers, millions are in remission post treatment.

 

Good to read some positivity here. I'm significantly more calm today. Starting to accept it. It helps that the pain level from the arm and biopsy are more manageable w/ the pain pills.

Thanks everyone.

 

Like someone previously mentioned, hearing things from other people can't make things better no matter how much we'd like. You must stay strong and keep faith in yourself, and you will get through this. Wishing you all the best and sending prayers your way!

 

My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cancer about 2 years ago. When the doctors talked to her they informed her that she may not have very long left. She went through many surgeries. removing part of her kidney and going through immunotherapy treatments. Doctors said the chance of the treatments/surgeries working was 1% and if they didn't work, there wasn't anything they could do to help her. Last month, after one last surgery, she is cancer free according to all the tests.

I was preparing myself to lose my mom within months. Miracles do happen.

I'm sorry to hear about the news. Keep strong and having family support is key.

 

While things might not seem good, keep faith and stay positive. Best of luck to you and yours Danielle. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

 

This is where the medical community needs to stop and think, and frankly deserves to be chastised. Unless the patient wants to know, that information should only be used for determining treatment recommendations (in my very strong opinion). It should never be offered as freely as it often is. Even staging plants negative seeds - that make it so much harder for the patient to overcome when they most need to keep their attitude right.
Like Hans Solo said, "never tell me the odds!!".
And Indiana Jones never quit mentality: "What truck?!?"... and goes on to fight the next battle with confidence and determination.

Glad to hear your Mom is doing well!

 

Such sad news. Stay strong, seek comfort among friends and family. You have my support, as well as many others on TMS.

 

The sooner you accept the reality of your situation and realize that everything else can be put on the back-burner and still be fine, the better off you'll be. You'll need your strength, patience and every bit of determination you can muster, but it's a winnable fight.

 

Stay strong and positive Danielle. Confidence and faith are powerful.
Praying for you.

 

Having somebody in your life can make times like this much better than they might be otherwise. Their love can calm your mind. My prayers for you.

 

I am sorry to hear about your news. Stay strong. You will get through this.

 

If it makes you feel any better chronic myelogenous leukemia is a very treatable and very survivable form of cancer. The 5 years survivor rate is about 90% with more than half having no symptoms. It's also an area where treatments have been advancing at a steady rate so current survival rates are probably higher than the historical statistics.


The diagnosis surely hits you like a ton of bricks and there will be times where you think your life is over, but always keep in mind, this is beatable. Not only is it possible to beat it, but the odds are very well in your favor. Especially since, for other reasons, you get your blood tested regularly so the cancer was detected relatively early.


It's going to be a tough time for sure, but keep your chin up and remember we're all here for you.

 

I think it's all been said in one way or another but hope is the most important weapon in any fight. All the fight you've shown on this forum and love of life is what will pull you through. Have faith in your strength. I know these are all just words but I hope they bring some small solice. All here are pulling for you.

 

Just know you have a lot of people in your corner!
I'm new here, but know you are in my prayers!

 

Sending out my very best wishes and a buttload of support to our resident Mustang Grille Guru! Stay tough, Danielle.

 

This.

But Danielle, my father was just recently diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He/we had no idea. When I got the call from him I immediately thought "stage 4, oh my god it's over". My point is that presumptions and the unknown can drive us crazy. Stage 4 just means it moved from the source and not necessarily terminal which I did not know. Turns out that he is doing very well and they have already been able to remove a lot of it.

Medical tech is amazing these days (just like Ford tech ). Don't let this early news get you down or thinking negatively, because once they get all the data, they will help you create a game plan to fight.

Also remember that doctors by nature are statistical. They base everything on numbers and data, so don't let that affect you either, they can't think differently.

When you feel a bit better go drop the top and gas it!