Rathgirl's Journey with APL (M3), which Usually Has Transloca...

My port was in my upper arm. The doctor called it a PICC line. He said it was basically the same as a port that is normally in your chest area but just different name and location.

I had multiple bone marrow biopsies while in treatment. They are supposedly considered surgery.

I was on continuous chemo for a week. I was hospitalized for that week and 3 more weeks after that because the chemo kills the bad blood cells as well as the good so my counts were dangerously low. After I was discharged I went back the mext 3 months for 3 days each month for about 30 min a day for more chemo. The only type of chemo I remember the name of is Atra aka Vesanoid for just about the whole 6 months I was in treatment.

I do still a year after being told I was cancer free I do still have hot flashes. They are the worst when I am working. No matter how hot or cold it is in the building I still get hot.

I had mouth sores bad for probably up to 2 weeks. I still to this day have some damage to my gums that occurred from the sores.

All my tastes have changed. Foods that I used to love now are not really my favorite. Also smells are more distinctive. Like chilli for example. The smell of chilli makes me nauseated. I don't like chilli to begin with but now the smell really bothers me.

When I was told I was cancer free my parents and I planned a celebration party and invited everyone that helped us cope and get through it all. We basically did it as a thank you for them all.