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Aerial's GoFund me page for her Dad Shug.....https://www.gofundme.com/f/rallying-for-seans-fight-with-cml-leukemia?attribution_id=sl:cb8136e8-076d-4d3b-9a20-9c1dc1eefc35&lang=en_US&ts=1771010220&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
Preliminary bone marrow biopsy result from 2/2/2026
Diagnosis: chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
As we discussed over the phone, the preliminary bone marrow biopsy result showed you have a type of leukemia called a chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). CML occurs when an abnormal chromosome changes happens in the white blood cells (which is called translocation of chromosome 9 and 22). CML is commonly found in "chronic phase" when the leukemia is still growing slowly. However, a chronic phase CML can progress into a more aggressive form "accelerated phase", and then "blast phase". Unfortunately, your CML was found in that advanced "blast phase".
As I explained briefly, we can use a targeted pill for the treatment for chronic phase CML. The drug targets the abnormal chromosome, to suppress the growth of the leukemia cells. However, when you have blast phase CML, we know that using this targeted pill is not enough.
Given how aggressive it is, we treat blast phase CML similarity to "acute" myeloid leukemia with chemotherapy, in addition to the targeted pill. We admit our patients in the hospital and use intense chemotherapy. The typical chemotherapy regimen is called "7+3 chemotherapy for leukemia" (or other regimen could be used. I am looking more into it about the latest data). The reason we do this as inpatient is because of the frequent transfusion need during the time the chemotherapy suppresses your bone marrow, to support your anemia (low hemoglobin/red blood cell) and low platelet. Additionally, the chemotherapy will also affect your white blood cell. When your white blood cell is low, you will be at risk for infection from bacteria that you may not usually acquire.
With this blast phase CML, the only way to cure or to have a long-term durable remission would be to consider a bone marrow transplantation in the future. I think you are the at borderline in terms of age to be considered for this but I believe you are fit enough that they can consider this treatment. Another key factor to be eligible for transplantation would be to have a good response on the chemotherapy and get into "remission", given that bone marrow transplantation does not go well when you have lots of residual leukemia cells.
Therefore, in the best case scenario, you start intense chemotherapy along with the pill that targets the abnormal chromosome changes, you get into remission, and then meet with the bone marrow specialist to be considered for bone marrow transplantation. A bone marrow transplantation is offered in academic centers, at the U of M and at the Mayo clinic for Minnesota.
We will discuss more next week on Monday, 2/16.