Last night I was asked by a friend what I'd recommend for a friend of his just diagnosed with leukemia. The first thing I asked him was what form he had, and he didn't know. I told him what I went through with PH+ ALL, and he did know his friends form was considered acute, but beyond that he needed to learn more.
I told him that the goal in most every type is achieving remission and then doing a stem cell transplant for longevity, which I believe is the case. They already tested his brothers for a possible match, but I actually don't know that they've yet identified precisely the form of leukemia he has.
My own experience had me hours from receiving my first dose of chemo which was going to start about a week after I was diagnosed only to have the treatment completely change as the testing which had taken that long didn't confirm the AML which they were about to treat me for, but rather I had PH+ ALL. I really don't know precisely what forms of leukemia permit the use of your own stem cells, but I told him that could still be a possibility.
Finally, I told him if his stem cells were coming from someone else, it may take the better part of a year before he's in remission, and they can do it. For me it had taken well over a year as while I was in remission, I had a persistent cold, and my Dr. wanted me as healthy as possible before it was done. I then told him about KALTF, both as an investor in cannabis based stock, which he is, and because of the possibility that in the next year he could get into the trial for GVHD. I know it's still early, but while I didn't have severe GVHD issues, at least now yet, 3+ years post transplant, I know even now they monitor me for it, and a cannabis based product might be a better answer. Until information for the trial is available, it's impossible to say where it will be run, but I'm hoping City of Hope, where I was treated, will be involved.
Gary
