I have leukemia

GJ we've all read and loved your stories. You're an interesting person with a lot to share. Are you able to share a prognosis? I hope the best for you and await your full return!

happy to hear about the good news :)

That's great news GJ! Hope to see you playing and posting for years to come!

You dodged a big bullet.

Life's a gift: something like this puts it in perspective.

Keep on keeping on.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I had my initial chemo in June and it was very hard on me mentally and physically. I just had one of my three follow-up chemo sessions last month and have two to go--one starting in about a week and the last one in October. The follow-up sessions last about five days, then I am discharged. After about a week or so after being discharged the full effect of the chemo kicks in and my immune system is compromised. So to prevent infection I am readmitted to the hospital for about a week so as to be in a controlled environment with antibiotics (at least this is how it happened on my first of three follow-up sessions, and it was a breeze).

I have not exercised or walked to work in five months. I used to walk to work every day; it's about 6/10ths of a mile. Today I walked to work for the first time since this all began, and I just started doing some stretching recently and some yard work. Yesterday, I went rock climbing for the first time five months. I just did beginner routes well within my limits. I'm no hero!

Slowly I am getting stronger.

Keep up the recovery, GJ. I'm very happy to hear you're in remission!

Quote: Greasyjohn

When I first went into the hospital back in June I was told that at 61 years old with acute myeloid leukemia I had a 10-40% chance of remission.

My doctors told me last Thursday that I am in remission. I am lucky. My DNA is such that this cancer was unable to get a full grip on me.

I have a friend who's 21-year-old niece died of leukemia about three years ago. Why her and not me? I don't know, but prayers acknowledge that our lives have meaning.

I am grateful to those of you who have prayed for me. I have to honor the power of prayer. My heart feels humble and grateful.

Congrats on kicking the cancer's bud. Wow, that's pretty awesome. I'm also really happy you are in remission.

I'll ask Pope Francis to pray for you if I get close enough of him on 9/27/2015 in Philly, PA.

Quote: Greasyjohn

...I have not exercised or walked to work in five months. I used to walk to work every day; it's about 6/10ths of a mile. Today I walked to work for the first time since this all began, and I just started doing some stretching recently and some yard work. Yesterday, I went rock climbing for the first time five months. I just did beginner routes well within my limits. I'm no hero!

Slowly I am getting stronger.

I literally went home today to watch motivational videos after injuries. I tore my meniscus and ACL in my right knee recently and had both surgeries in the past month and a half (hint: I was in Vegas just before my ACL surgery because I knew I'd be laid up for a while). I'm only 3 weeks in the ACL recovery and can't even start rehab for another 3 weeks. I felt weak, powerless, and most of all unmotivated to change it. I'm finding new reasons every day to do what I can and push myself to the limits and beyond of what I'm allowed to do.

Don't stop exercising or working out (unless your doctor says otherwise I suppose), but stay strong! Your body can be broken quite easily, but one of the amazing things I'm learning is how fast it can rebuild and how strong it can become so quickly. I didn't post any of this in any attempts to take away from your thread, I'm clearly going to absolutely nothing compared to your situation. I'm simply trying to empathize with you how recovery (in any aspect) can be difficult. Stay hungry and stay motivated, especially if you're over the hump. I wish you a swift recovery and can't wait to here another one of Greasyjohn's old stories...

Quote: Greasyjohn

Slowly I am getting stronger.

FANTASTIC. Slow and steady wins the race.

Wonderful news. Praying for continued recovery.

Great to hear. Keep the positive attitude.

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear the good news.

GreasyJohn, I saw this thread earlier and considered not commenting. However, I have changed my mind since maybe my thought would be helpful to someone. I was a man pretty much pronounced dead almost a decade ago. The things that kept me going were my family and friends. But in addition to that there were 2 daily thoughts that I had and which everybody could benefit by doing something similar. The first thought that I continually imagined was me and my wife at our favorite vacation spot. Always great fun. The other was in telling myself every day that tomorrow will be an even better day than today.

The message is STAY POISITIVE.

I wish you a complete and speedy recovery.

Good Luck!

Awesome that you are in remission! Glad to hear you are doing better, GJ!