According to an article written by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, nearly 30% of people diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia die either prior to treatment beginning, within the first 3 days of treatment, proceeding the first 3 days of treatment or in the moderate to high risk group. What it boils down to is, the time from onset to mortality is very short and the symptoms of leukemia can be chalked up to anything from overexertion in day to day life to the flu. Before you know it, it has advanced beyond the point of a body’s ability to handle the treatment or protect itself anymore. I am within the high risk group and can’t help but wonder if my (former) family doctor had taken my concern seriously the first time I called how that would have changed what I had to go through to get well again. Highlighting the urgent need for us, as patients, to advocate for ourselves.
Author Archives: Michelle Burleigh
Medical Terminology Decoded
I can remember the first day I was admitted to the hospital. It had been only hours since my diagnosis and there were doctors and nurses everywhere. Before I knew it, I was taking what seemed like an unlimited number of pills and had three IV lines running at the same time. As a personContinueContinue reading “Medical Terminology Decoded”
Canadian Cancer Society’s Awards of Excellence in Cancer Research
The Changing Face of Cancer Care in Canada Since 1993, Canadian Cancer Society has been honouring exceptional Canadian scientists with peer nominated awards annually. These scientists are recognized for their significant contributions to cancer research and cancer control. On Wednesday November 21, 2018, the annual ceremony was held at the CIBC Head Office building inContinueContinue reading “Canadian Cancer Society’s Awards of Excellence in Cancer Research”
Environmental Dangers: Social and Political Influences and Diet
When we are dealing with disease, it is very safe to say diet plays a big role. Whether that be in how we got sick or how we get and stay healthy again, a healthy diet is synonymous with a healthy body. Therefore, especially when we have a scare, we may be inclined to makeContinueContinue reading “Environmental Dangers: Social and Political Influences and Diet”
Environmental Dangers: What Have I Done to Myself?
It’s really important to highlight how different countries view different human and environmental dangers so I will provide tons of links to credible websites which evidence the information I am sharing. Before getting into how the world around us is contributing to our declining health, let’s look at what we may be doing to ourselves. SIDEBAR! Let’s be clear about declining health, we have TONS of pharmaceutical options out there to MANAGE disease. For example, it is estimated that by 2025 we will see a 44% increase in the number of Canadians living with diabetes (Diabetes Canada). As of 2015, there were more than 25 approved diabetes drugs in Canada to manage this condition (Canadian Diabetes Association. Instead, I am referring to…
Chemotherapy Side Effects Suck! Here Are Some Tricks to Help
In May of 2018, six months post diagnosis, if you had asked me where I thought I would be in my recovery, I would have said, ‘preparing for my return to work’. I would have told you that I brilliantly and practically, planned to have one of my daughters, Victoria, home with me through out the summer and it was the perfect way for she and I to reconnect after a challenging number of months since my diagnosis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. I would have told you, ‘Heck ya I have the energy to keep up, and I am in great spirits and we will laugh and play so much in the summer sun’. That is NOT how the summer went.
Here’s a few things you can do to help manage your side effects too.
3 Important Things to Know During Cancer Treatment That Could Save Your Life
There are many resources out there that tell us to make sure we know our options post diagnosis. Usually with an acute diagnosis we have days, maybe even hours left before we could experience a hemorrhage that will end our lives. In fact, there is any number of case studies that can be found on sudden death, which upon autopsy determines a person had undiagnosed leukemia. The fact is, there is no time for someone with a new acute diagnosis to seek out options. This can lead to intense feelings of helplessness. As a person who has spent her life as a chronic control freak, this was a really quick lesson in letting things go. That said, there are certainly things that are within our control, like caring for our central line or port and keeping others accountable to their part also.
How Cancer Healed My Relationship
Marvin and I were together for one year before we experienced our first trauma together. It was a sudden loss neither of us expected at and was our first lesson in how we would manage life’s speed bumps as partners. I was torn up, sad, mad and my coping strategy has always been hiding behind anger and independence. He was torn up, sad, mad and his coping strategy was to withdraw. It was the start of a very lonely time in our relationship. Over the course of the next 17 months, we experienced two more traumas. Again, unexpected life events that were like being hit by a freight train, spinning around still on the tracks and being smoked by the train coming the other way too.
We realized somewhere in between these events, maybe after the third, that something wasn’t working for us.
Survivors Guilt: The Precipice of Self Sabotage
When I received the conclusive diagnosis that indeed, I was suffering from was Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, I was told repeatedly over the next 4 months of treatment, ‘Of all the leukemias to have, this is the one you want to have!’. I think the intention of such a comment was to make me feel comforted. However, the mind of a newly diagnosed leukemia patient, fighting for their life is a complex one. Initially, I didn’t really have any thoughts about this. I just kind of figured it was what it was. I couldn’t give my leukemia back and I didn’t get to exchange it for another one anyway soooo, there wasn’t a ton of value in such a statement. However, as the weeks and then months rolled by, it crept into my thoughts often and eventually it hit me; I felt guilty.
Your Role as an Inpatient, Outpatient and Transitioning Between
Hey Everybody! Below I’ve included a whole bunch of great information on things to consider or keep in mind at various stages of hospital treatment. Each unit operates differently and knowing what to expect and how to help you, help them will make your hospital experience safer and smoother.
Read on for tips.
So You've Got Cancer 