Here we go again...

Sarah's randomisation came back and inevitably she was assigned the MACE treatment so faced with the prospect of being hooked up constantly to Chemotherapy for the next 6 days we took the decision to come off the AML 15 trial and switch to the Barts standard treatment. This decision was met with a tinge of regret as we felt that we were "doing our bit" for research and helping future patients but Sarah's results will still be collated and be utilised by the trial, and she did have her first two Chemotherapy cycles under the "AML 15" trial umbrella. The Barts standard treatment, 1.5g of Ara-C (Cytarbine), was actually included as one of the treatments in the AML 15 trial, this will be given in 6 doses each one lasting 4 hours over the next 6 days. Although, Sarah received Ara-C during her first two cycles of Chemotherapy the dose given in this 3rd cycle is ten times the amount previously received.By 6.30pm Sarah was recieving her Chemo again and begun the familiar routine of letting the drugs ruin her (now leukaemia free) blood and the familiar feelings of sickness and lethargy. It wasn't until 11.30pm that we were back in the hostel after another hectic and emotional day.