July 2006
07/23/2006 CML Announcement
I wanted to let everyone know about a goofy thing the doctors found in my blood. Please
don’t be too alarmed. It is treatable and curable and I should be ok after the treatments.
What is it?
Two of the chromosomes in my blood got mix-matched. They are still functioning, but
the signal for white blood cells to naturally die off in a timely manner is not working
right, so I have way too many white blood cells. The good thing is that all of the white
blood cells I have are mature, functioning and doing their job to fight infections.
When did I get it?
My doctor thinks I developed this about one month before they caught it. It is very good
that they caught it this early. There is a low chance it will progress to a serious stage.
How did I get it?
Doctors have no idea what triggers this chromosome mix-up in healthy people with no
risk of unusually high exposure to radiation or benzene. It is rare that I have this in my
early thirties—most cases appear in patients in their 50s and 60s.
How is it treated?
The first step is to filter out the extra white blood cells with a process called apheresis
(similar to dialysis). I have a catheter into a vein in my chest which has 2 tubes coming
out—this will stay in my chest for a couple of months. These tubes connect to a
machine that my blood flows through into a centrifuge. The extra white blood cells are
sorted out and the rest of the blood components go back in my blood stream. The
process is about 4 hours. I will probably go once or twice a week for a couple of
months. In my first treatment the machine removed 1 lb. of white blood cells.
Later when my counts are at the right level, I will start taking a miracle drug that
corrects the problem in the chromosomes.
Does it hurt?
I feel like I have mono—very tired and my spleen is very sore, since excess white blood
cells hang out in the spleen causing it to become enlarged. The cathedar in my chest is
very uncomforable and sore, but I'm getting more used to it. I also have a little anemia
because the process also removes a little hemoglobin, so I have to get blood
transfusions (just red blood cells) every couple of weeksd during the process.
What is it called?
It has a scary name, but remember it is treatable. It is called CML (Chronic
Myelogenous Leukemia). Chronic means it progresses very slowly. Myleogenous
indicates that the white blood cells are mature and functioning. (The more common
form of lukemia is much more serious because the white blood cells are immature and
not functioning properly.) Leukemia means too many white blood cells.
Where am I?
I am at home. I spent one night at the hospital one night to prep for the surgery to put in
the cathedar. They don’t expect me to have to spend any more nights at the hospital. I
go to St. Luke’s for the blood filter—I am there about 6 hours at a time. I am trying to do
a little work from home, but my main job right now is to rest.
Here is our current addres:
Mark & Amy Potts
8100 Cambridge, #14
Houston, Tx 77054
What can you do?
Please keep me in your prayers. If you want a more active job, you can also start
donating blood—a very import thing for healthy people to do. I am AB+, but because the
doctors are being very careful I cannot receive any blood from relatives or Mark and his
family—opposite of what you would think. It doesn’t matter where you donate, but if you
are in Houston and want to donate in my name you can go to St. Luke’s.
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