Any parents dealing with Aplastic Anemia?

Question

My 7 1/2 year old son has been undergoing treatment for Aplastic Anemia for the past 6 months. I need to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Has anyone been through this?

I have been dealing with this disease for over 6 months now. I now what causes it, how it is treated and the odds of him developing other conditions because of this. I am asking if anyone has ever been through it, and may have an encouraging story, to help me get through this hell.

Answer 1

Hello, I personally don't have any experience with aplastic anemia, but 6 months ago I met at the daycare where I was working a boy who is currently 9 years old who suffered from Aplastic Anemia when he was 2 years old. I had the chance to speak to his mom and she told me that at that time he couldnt have the traditional therapy a patient like him was supposed to have ( i think it was a bone marrow transplant, but i am not 100% sure) so he got this therapy with steroids if i dont remember wrong he got a couple of years of this therapy, and ... well.. right now he is 9 and accoording to his mother (and what i could see!) he is doing wonderfully!!

So.. yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel!!! just ask God and he will listen to you! (sorry i cant' be more helpful but that is all i can remember for now).

Answer 2

CANCER in general is a very fearful disease an still an enigma. Whatever be the kind of cancer, and irespective of the stage and other factors we have to fight it with all possible means and defenitely there are chances of wining the game. So try your best to save the boy with the positive hope and you will suceed.

For your information benefit, I am appending a full write of apalastic anemia below:

Aplastic anemia is a condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough, or any, new cells to replenish the blood cells.

The term 'aplastic' refers to the inability of the marrow to function properly. Anemia is the condition of having fewer blood cells than normal, or fewer than needed to function properly. Typically, anemia refers to low red blood cell counts, but aplastic anemia patients have lower counts on all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Causes : One known cause is an autoimmune disorder, where the white blood cells attack the bone marrow.
In many cases, the etiology is impossible to determine, but aplastic anemia is sometimes associated with exposure to substances such as benzene, radiation, or to the use of certain drugs, including chloramphenicol and phenylbutazone.

Signs and symptoms: Anemia with malaise, pallor and associated symptoms. Thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts), leading to increased risk of hemorrhage and bruising
Leukopenia (low white blood cell count), leading to increased risk of infection

Diagnosis :The diagnosis can only be made on bone marrow biopsy. Before this procedure is undertaken, a patient will generally have had other blood tests to find diagnostic clues, including a full blood count, renal function and electrolytes, liver enzymes, thyroid function tests, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels.

Treatment: Treating aplastic anemia involves suppression of the immune system, an effect achieved by daily medicine intake, or, in more severe cases, a bone marrow transplant, a potential cure but a risky procedure. The transplanted bone marrow replaces the failing bone marrow cells with new ones from a matching donor. The pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow reconstitute all three blood cell lines, giving the patient a new immune system, red blood cells, and platelets. However, besides the risk of graft failure, there is also a risk that the newly created white blood cells may attack the rest of the body ("graft-versus-host disease").

Medical therapy of aplastic anemia often includes a short course of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG or anti-lymphocyte globulin) and several months of treatment with cyclosporin to modulate the immune system. Mild chemotherapy with agents such as cyclophosphamide and vincristine may also be effective. Antibodies therapy, such as ATG, targets T-cells, which are believed to attack the bone marrow. Steroids are generally ineffective.

Follow-up : Regular full blood counts are required to determine whether the patient is still in a state of remission.
10-33% of all patients develop the rare disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH, anemia with thrombopenia and/or thrombosis), which has been explained as an escape mechanism by the bone marrow against destruction by the immune system. Flow cytometry testing is probably warranted in all PNH patients with recurrent aplasia.