Alright, so let’s get nerdy for a second—because understanding what I have actually makes this whole thing make more sense.
“Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, or APL, is a rare type of leukemia where my white blood cells get stuck in their awkward teenage phase and refuse to grow up. Instead of turning into mature, infection-fighting cells, they sit there in my bone marrow, multiplying and blocking the production of everything else my body actually needs.
“It’s caused by a specific genetic mutation called the PML-RARA fusion gene. Think of it like a bad software update that completely crashes the system.”
Translation:
• My bone marrow wasn’t making enough red blood cells. → Hello, exhaustion and dizziness.
• My bone marrow wasn’t making enough platelets. → Bruising and bleeding risks through the roof.
• My white blood cells weren’t doing their job. → Biggest case of ‘not my problem’ I’ve ever seen.
“Basically, my blood was working against me. If we didn’t act fast, this could have turned into a very bad situation.
And here’s why: APL doesn't play around, unlike other types of leukemia, which can sometimes creep up slowly. It comes with an extra danger level—the risk of something called Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). Basically, my blood was at risk of either:
✅ Clotting uncontrollably, which could lead to strokes or organ failure.
✅ Not clotting at all, meaning even a minor injury or nosebleed could be life-threatening.
So, what’s the fix? Since this isn’t a ‘typical’ leukemia, we don’t treat it with typical chemotherapy. Instead, my doctors hit me with a very specific treatment plan:”
✅ ATRA (All-Trans Retinoic Acid) – A type of vitamin A that tells my immature white blood cells to grow up and get a job.
✅ Arsenic Trioxide (ATO) – Yep, arsenic. In small doses, it’s actually great at killing off rogue leukemia cells. Who knew? (inconceivable…anyone…)
“The goal? Force my blood to start cooperating. It’s a rough process, but here’s the good news: APL has one of the highest survival rates of any leukemia—as long as you treat it fast.”
“Which brings us back to why I’m here, in a hospital, getting pumped full of meds within hours of my diagnosis.”
So, that’s the story. One day, I was rolling along, feeling a little off, and the next, I was on the mat with APL—getting my corner team of doctors, nurses, and (let’s be real) probably way too much hospital Jell-O.”
But we caught it early. We started treatment fast. And now? Now, we fight.
I’ll be updating this journal with what’s happening, how I’m feeling, and any deep thoughts I have while stuck in a hospital bed. Probably some unfiltered commentary on hospital food, too.
Thanks for being in my corner. More to come. No quarter was given.
