My oncologist from the beginning has not been very forthcoming about the specifics of my AML. My 1st visit he told me I’d be in the hospital for chemo treatment. Never mentioned the name of chemo or how long I would take it. I was still in shock from finding out I had AML. My bloodwork at my Internist in Oct. 2022 was normal. Then I found out Dec. 15,2022 I have cancer.
In the hospital I asked my nurses what I was taking. I seemed to be so uninformed & confused while in the hospital. I received blood transfusions, platelets, steroids, & magnesium infusions but never told why. Never had any results from my bloodwork explained to me. I didn’t ask because I was so sick from chemo side effects.
Got out of hospital & had 6 chemo infusions a week for 3 months. I asked my nurses to explain the bloodwork reports I got before my chemo. They gladly helped. I have no family with me during my treatments & Dr. visits so I’ve had to learn how to advocate for myself. I guess my Dr. thinks I’m too old or too stupid to understand if he were to explain. I’m 65 with 2 Master’s degrees - far from old or stupid! I read about cancer patients with caring, kind doctors who want their patients to have understanding. Mine is knowledgeable & talks in medical terms. He’s part of a very highly rated hospital so I’ve had good care. But I’m still in the dark about any specifics of my AML. ☹️

My oncologist I didn't like him and I had to find somebody else and I just love who I have now make the world a difference

I'm 67 years old and I don't think my doctors think I have a clue of what's going on because I can't pronounce a lot of the words but I'm far from stupid and he's going to have to do better or I'm going to have to find another doctor

No, my doctors have been very good about giving me explanations. Go to your doctor with a list of your questions and then make sure you get answers that you can understand.

I have learned not to depend on the doctors to tell me anymore. Originally when I was diagnosed, I was told I had AML with FLT3 mutation, part of (MLL). So got treatment with chemo plus Rydapt drug meant to clear FLT3 mutation, but it didn't work. So I tried another drug Xospata, approved in 2020 for FLT3 and it worked and cleared. But still chemo couldn't clear the cells & keep relapsing. Then reading my FISH bone marrow report, I found out I had another mutation KMT2A which has been there all along. It still doesn't have FDA approved drug. Doing my own research, I find that their are a bunch of clinical trials for this and other mutations like IDH etc. Please read your own FISH report, it will be very clear. Sometimes the docs don't want to shock patients. You can tell by their deer in the headlights expressions they know how to break it to you. I don't if some mutations stem from treatments itself. Anyway, That's my experience, I don't know about others.