Jeff McGown

Hi everyone,

This is my story.  It started on October 23rd, I was not feeling good and Jo-Anne took me to Collingwood Hospital where I was diagnosed with pneumonia.  I was given medications and after about two weeks, I started to feel dizzy.  I booked an appointment with my family doctor for November 10th.  He then sent me to the emergency department at Collingwood Hospital(in Collingwood, Ontario) then phoned to let them know what tests that he would like them to run.  After the results were done, they admitted me and gave me blood transfusion as my hemoglobin was low and I also had a CT scan of my lungs.  On Friday, November 11th, my family doctor said that I will be in the hospital for the weekend and there is an appointment on Monday, November 14th to have a bone marrow biopsy at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie.  On Tuesday, I was informed that I had Leukemia.  On Wednesday, November 16th, Jo-Anne and I had an appointment at Princess Margaret Cancer hospital in Toronto.  After more tests, the doctor informed us that I had Acute Myeloid Leukemia,  We were informed that I would have to have chemotherapy to treat this and it can only be done at Princess Margaret Hospital(PMH) in Toronto.  At my next visit at PMH, I was informed about a research study experimental drug that I qualified for.  I did the screening test for the study and started the experimental drug on Thursday, December 1st.  I am doing okay, however, I just get tired faster.  I have a recheck appt on November 8th then I will be admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital around December 14th to start chemo as well as the experimental drug and will be in for 4 to 6 weeks. 

I will let Jo-Anne put updates from this point. 

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