My 25-year-old son Kyle was diagnosed in 1989 with Hodgkin's disease,
lymphocyte predominant. He underwent radiation, then recurred in 1991. He
then underwent the MOPP-ABV chemotherapy protocol common for Hodgkin's.
Three years later -- late in 1994 -- he recurred again. This time his own
bone marrow was harvested and, in 1995, he underwent an autologous BMT at
City of Hope in Los Angeles County. The adriamycin he took during his BMT
severely damaged his heart. It is currently pumping at 42% its capacity, up
from 38%.
He has now been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, supposedly
unrelated to his Hodgkin's or the high levels of radiation/chemo he's already
had (that would more probably have been AML rather than ALL). He is slated
to start induction therapy tomorrow (July 30, 1997) at City of Hope. We are
still waiting for results on a chromosome test.
Any information that anyone can provide us with information and/or
similarities to Kyle's situation will be greatly appreciated. He seems
exceedingly rare in his health history, and we are hungry to learn if there
is anyone else close to him in experience with leukemia/lymphoma out there.
We want and need a support system of others who have faced similar
situations. Obviously we also want a support system of hope for Kyle's
eventual full recovery. Can anyone provide such a thing?
