Recent Promising Treatment for Late-Stage AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia)

Are there any promising treatments in late-stage testing?

Yes, there are several drugs being investigated in phase II and phase III trials. We currently have a phase III trial open with a drug called rigosertib for patients who have failed prior treatment with azacitidine or decitabine, which are known as demethylating agents. The proposed mechanism of action for these drugs is that they alter gene expression profiles in the cancer cells and increase their susceptibility to death. Rigosertib is a cell cycle inhibitor and would prevent the cancer cells from growing and induce direct damage to the cancer cells, causing their death.

For PapAmore', Arend 'Odee' Lenderink 
http://papamore.blogspot.com

It's all worth it to have had him at all.

Reflecting upon the movie Shadowlands, the words of C.S. Lewis...

In a strange way, I see now how the suffering of all of us who mourn the loss of our PapAmore, Arend 'Odee' Lenderink, is a part of the blessing.

I imagine that not many are "blessed" enough to feel this kind of anguish...not everyone has been able to experience this great amount of love on earth.

The degree to which our hearts currently shatter is a direct result of the enormous amount of love they held for and were given by this sacred man we knew.  

I wouldn't give up all of my pain of today for even one yesterday without him.  

It's all worth it to have had him at all.

We can’t have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That’s the deal.

The Price of Love

We can’t have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That’s the deal.
- Shadowlands 1993

Shadowlands, the 1993 film portraying the love story between the English writer, CS Lewis, and the American poet Joy Davidman Gresham.Within our story, Shadowlands comes at the end of the beginning, and at the beginning of the end. But as one dark day is closing, so a different dawn awaits.

Why love, if losing hurts so much?

I have no answers any more: only the life I have lived.

I'm sorry that I'm feeling sorry for us...

How do I stop fighting for you when you're all I want back?  

How do I "let go" of our lifeline?  

How do I not search for the only one who always had the answers?  

I just want to climb in your lap.

I just want for it all to go away.

This morning your little Anna told me, not long after she had awoken...

"Mama, this is just so ridiculous!  I can't believe my Papa died!  I keep thinking it must be a dream...but, it's not...and sometimes, I don't like it when you wake me up now, Mama...'cause then I know it's real, that my Papa really did die."

I'm sorry, that we miss you so much, Papa...

I'm sorry that I don't actually feel God "carrying us" most all of the time now, like most likely I should...

I'm sorry I "fought" for you perhaps too long...

I'm sorry that I'm feeling sorry for us...

We miss you and you're gone...

It's so hard to believe that you're gone...

Please Pray for this newly diagnosed AML Grandmother and her Family

my so called life: Acute Myeloid Leukemia

If you could please send some positive thoughts or prayers her way, I would be immensely grateful.

Potential Good News for some AML Patients

Don’t let age bar you from having a blood stem cell transplant

by MARIJKE on December 9th, 2008

According to a press release issued by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Older Age Doesn’t Affect Survival after Bone Marrow Transplant, if you’re over 65 years old and you have acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), you could do just as well as younger patients who receive the transplant.

In a new study, researchers looked at 551 patients who had transplants for MDS and 565 for AML. They found that age had no statistically significant impact on transplant-related mortality, relapse, leukemia-free survival or overall survival.

Time From Diagnosis to Treatment Initiation Predicts Survival in Younger, but Not Older, Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Blood. 2009 Jan 1;113(1):28-36, MA Sekeres , P Elson, ME Kalaycio, AS Advani, EA Copelan, S Faderl, HM Kantarjian, E Estey

An extract out of grape kernels can bring about leukemia cells to kill themselves.

Americans have chosen HOPE over fear

In light of America, our Freedom, Gratitude, Hope and a Cure for Cancer, HERE as of Today is a Bill we best Support.

Please Help Make A Positive Change...For Everyone...For PapAmore...

EVERYONE should be Privy to certain Information, regardless of Internet Access and Skills, Physician Communication Ability, Current Ability to Absorb and/or Hear the Information at that moment, etc.

Is it really okay for ANYONE to tell another human being that due to lack of Medical Options that their life is over and THEN to send them out the door without sharing with them VITAL RESOURCES regarding AVAILABLE?!

Without googling Palliative Care and contacting them on our own, my Dad would not even have had a pain relief prescription, he was dying from AML without even a prescription for relief from the intense pain.

Please Help Make A Positive Change...For PapAmore...

To Receive the BEST Leukemia Treatment, Be Actively Informed and Involved

For PapAmore, whose everyday life actively taught us to always give-back.

Leukemia Resources

Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc Patients, families and health care professionals can benefit from these FREE services by calling 800.747.2820 or email at help@aamds.org.

National Marrow Donor Program

National Cancer Institute

Rare Cancer Alliance - Visit their Cancer Support Forums

Steve Dunn's Cancer Guide
This cancer survivor's site 

Granny Barb And Art's Leukemia Resources
includes links to medical sites, organizations, survivor stories, and much more

Medicine Online Atlas of Acute Leukemia
more technical information on Leukemia, but also includes many photos of different types

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Large resource site has a good sections on leukemia, patient services, volunteering locally, discussion boards, and information on myelodysplastic syndromes.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Listings at DMOZ
directory just for AML and currently has about 20 listings of editor-selected AML leukemia web sites

InnerLife Wellness Center
Important information and links for Optimizing Health, Maximizing Life and Preventing Disease.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society BBS 

Leukemia Cancer News

What to Ask Your Doctor

How to Find Medical Information

To Obtain the Best Treatment Info & Financial Assistance contact us for a FREE INFORMATION PACKET which includes:

Cancer Hospital Locations Clinical Trials Hazardous Jobs/ Products

New Treatment Options Doctors Financial Assistance

Fill out the form below or call 1-800-913-6370.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) offers patients the most sophisticated forms of surgery,radiation therapy and chemotherapy in combination with complementary medicine therapies, includingnutrition therapy, naturopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, and spiritual support. If you or a loved one is exploring cancer treatment options, call 800-268-0786 or click here to chat with an Oncology Information Specialist. Our specialists are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  While I was at CTCA I met patients from other states who said the first doctor they went to for cancer treatment told them there was no hope. But at CTCA, they don’t kill your hopes.

BEST ADVICE...Get a VALID (meaning more than your Oncologist relaying to you that she already shared the file with so and so...) Second Opinion!!!!! (Furthermore, if your Oncologist ever discourages you to get a 'Valid' 2nd opinion...this is a RED FLAG, it's time to find a new doctor.)

The world without our Papa

It's so surreal 

It makes no sense

The world without our Papa

It's so foggy

It lacks all direction

The world without our Papa

It's so overwhelming

It hurts so much

The world without our Papa

It's our worst nightmare

It frightens our souls

The world without our Papa

It's dark

It's ugly

It's senseless

It's sad

The world without our Papa

My Dad and Me

I may not be your flesh and blood

I've obviously not known you the longest

There's things about you I've never known

Our quantity of time isn't strongest

I don't want to "compete" for your love

I never really did

Your love was always endless

It never had a lid

I just want to miss you

I just want to share

The one for whom my heart sang

Whom I always knew would care

So maybe I'm not your "daughter"

Perhaps I'm "only" a "step"

But to us that never mattered

Each memory I have kept

Stored in my heart

Locked with a key

Treasured forever

My Dad and me

Waiting for "Time to Heal All Wounds"

"Papa was ALL of My Happy, 

without Him I'll Always be Sad"

A Celebration of Life for Arend "Odee" Lenderink in Denver, Colorado, 1/19/09

Arend "Odee" Lenderink
Lenderink, Arend "Odee" age 71, of Grand Haven, died Sunday, January 11, 2009.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2009, at Third Christian Reformed Church in Denver, Colorado.  Please visit www.klaassenfuneralhome.com to sign Odee's on-line guest book and view his full obituary.

I Love You, Now Put THAT In Your Pipe and Smoke It!

I Love You, Now Put THAT In Your Pipe and Smoke It!

These are the words that PapAmore's 4th daughter shared with all of those gathered to celebrate him today...the last words ever spoken to her from her Dad.  

Granted, these words could have been a touch of morphine induced, however at the same time this phrase was most definitely 110% PapAmore.  

It's no wonder this GIANT of a Man was SO VERY LOVED by All...

Until We Meet Again, PapAmore

My Dad, Arend 'Odee' Lenderink, was buried today.  

We gathered today with many loved ones to honor this amazing treasure from above. 

Today we celebrated our Papa, a great man of faith, a most blessed gift that somehow we were honored to be the recipients of...oh how we will always remain in awe-like wonder of "Odee's" earthly dance with God.  

We will never forget the eternally upward direction that he steadfastly blazed a trail for our own lives to follow.

Today was his funeral...and it was beautiful...and he would have been proud.

I smiled today, amidst my tears...and my broken heart momentarily healed and dramatically swelled with such "PapAmore" pride.  

Today PapAmore was so LOVED, so APPRECIATED, so HONORED, so RESPECTED, so ADMIRED and so CHERISHED.

(Almost as much as he surely should have been each and every day of his life...amongst us mere mortals with whom he all too briefly shared this land.)

And as I longingly wished that he too could be there today, to see how much we had listened, had noticed, did believe and forever and always will love...PapAmore...I heard him whisper...he was.

Heartache for Others...Please PRAY for Dan

I (literally) randomly read this online and as a result am on my knees for these people I've never met and whom my only contact with is from a few posts on their blog.

Dan has AML and remission is currently not his, perhaps someone reading this knows of some way to help Dan, it could be...for God works in mysterious ways, let us never forget that, always hope, never stop believing and continue to ACTIVELY pray...

Posted by: unusualadventure | January 15, 2009

Last week, Dan, Erin & Tanya went to an appointment with the Fred Hutchinson Centre in Seattle where it was recommended strongly by Dr Klimo and VGH that we go for a ‘consultation’. I suppose we went down there expecting to hear of several options and ”trials” that Dan could look at. So, it was a bit of a shock to hear that they felt Dan’s 3 chemo’s not resulting in remission meant that Dan could no longer expect ordinary/standard AML treatments to work and they had nothing for him.

Initially, they told us that Dan was now in the category of looking for a new ‘break-through’ drug - something that hasn’t been tried before…and recommended that Dan go to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas - a facility that leads the US in innovative new trials for Cancer and Leukemia. They advised Dan that he should listen to all the options there, decide who he wanted to work with - and to go for it. Basically - to take a dart and see which Trial it landed on…a little unsettling. However, the more we talked, specifically about Dan’s chromosome abnormalities and the appearing and disappearing of his “Deletion Q5″, the more they became convinced that, at least initially, they would advise VGH that Dan go on a combination course of Mylotarg, Revlimid, and one other drug…basically a more experimental program than VGH was recommending…to hopefully buy some time

It is hard not to feel a sense of urgency, despite how well Dan mostly feels and looks, as his blood counts are not as strong as they used to be….and it’s hard not to be concerned about how quickly the Leukemia is growing. However, that is precisely what Dan is trying to do – not go by tests, but go by how he feels.

God say Papa go bye-bye, Children and Funerals

Helpful Guidance and Support… For Parents For Teachers For All Caring Adults
My co-worker’s seven-year-old son was devastated when his grandfather died. Kyle had been very close to his grandfather, who used to give him plenty of hugs and affectionate little pats on the arm. Kyle said he wanted to go to the visitation at the funeral home. When he got there, he walked right up to the casket without hesitation and patted his grandpa on the arm, just as Grandpa had done to him so many times before.

Children and Funerals

Help for parents facing a death in their family. Reasons and examples to help them decide to involve their child in the process.

Peace4 and PapAmore

I just talked to MaggiesRose and she asked me to tell everyone .....

If you wish to do something to honor Odee, in lieu of flowers, to please donate to the Peace4 the Missing Non Profit fund. He was very proud of everything that has come together here and he would be honored to see Peace4 the Missing grow into something that will truly help the families of the missing and victims of crime.

You can send any donations to:

Peace4 the Missing
121 Lafayette Ave.
Grand Haven, MI 49417

Arend Lenderink

(June 24, 1937 - January 11, 2009) 

Please Continue Reading HERE

How to Locate Leukemia Treatment Centers, Hospitals and Oncologists

Leukemia Treatment Centers and Hospitals

There are several well-known leukemia treatment centers scattered across the United States. Some of them include:

• Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
  Patient Information: (312) 908-5250
• Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  Patient Information: 1-800-865-1125
• UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL
  Patient Information: 1-800-UAB-0933 or (205) 975-8222
  Clinical Trial Information: (205) 934-0337 - Alma Del Grosso
• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC
  Patient Information: (919) 966-3036
  Clinical Trial Information: (919) 966-4432
• M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  Patient Information: 1-800-392-1611 or (713) 792-6161 http://www.leukemia-web.org/aml-leukemia-news/leukemia-cancer-news-0129.htm
• For a list of Cancer Doctors/ Oncologists in your area, please contact us at 1-800-923-6376 or use the form below to request information. http://www.leukemia-web.org/ask-the-doctor.htm

The American Cancer Society is happy to address almost any cancer-related topic. If you have any more questions, please call us at 1-800-ACS-2345 at any time, 24 hours a day.

When You Came Over to Tell Me That The Cancer Was Back

I remember every word, you're right, Papa...you truly are right here, in our hearts...

(Papa is in blue)

Now, get over here, let me give you a hug

I don't want you to tell me, Papa

I know, honey, I don't want to have to tell you either, I really thought that it was gone, I did.  Look at me, no look at me, it's going to be alright, I promise.

I know

It okay to cry, your Mom and I cried too.  But, we have to trust, God.

I will, Papa

I'm not going anywhere and I will have hope up until my very last breath, but I need to know that you and my girls will be alright

I know, we will, I promise, I will make you proud, Papa

Oh, sweetie, I know you will, you already do, every moment of every day, you already do

And, I am still here, and I am going to keep on bugging you, all the time, even IF I am not here on earth, I'm going to keep bugging you, don't you forget that

I expected that you would...and thanks, Papa...I would like that

I don't want to go yet, there is so much here yet that I want to still do.  I want to have a Bible Study yet with Rod and Lou, I want to be there for you and your girls, I want to spend more time with my best friend, I'm not ready yet to leave your Mother.  How I pray that someday you meet someone who will cherish you the way I cherish your Mom, who will treat you and my girls the way you deserve to be treated.

We already have that, Papa, we have you

You silly nut, you know what I mean

I know

If I do go, to heaven, you know what I'm going to do?

Sing really loud?

Well, yea...of course, but I'm also going to right away walk right up to Jack, your Dad and I'm going to say...thank you for sharing your little girls with me...

I love you, Daddy

I love you too, honey, I always will

(then you started in on your "short list" ~ you always took such good care of us all, PapAmore, xox times a google and more)