[Greg H]

Hey Linda!

It would really be nice to have a guide to the lab reports. A lot of folks on this forum seem to be pretty knowledgeable, so you could definitely try posting a couple of numbers or paragraphs that have you puzzled and someone can probably help.

I have two docs as well, and they lab reports they use have slightly different formats, which can be confusing. Also, they seem to be interested in different numbers sometimes. I've learned a lot about how to read the reports, but I'm still figuring it out -- for example, I still don't know what a reticulocyte is or why it matters.

It's a pretty big shock when someone in a white coat tells you that you probably won't live as long as you thought you were going to. Sounds like Al is still suffering form that shock. But you are right that a lot of the survival numbers out there don't take into account the new drugs, like Vidaza and Dacogen. I've had to caution my daughters about being careful about information they find on the web that may be dated and misleading.

Does Al have to do platelet transfusions?

I'm going to be zipping positive thoughts out your way for Al's bone marrow report. Here's to no growth in blasts!

Take Care!

Greg