I have worked in roughly 25+ tumour types. They are all horrible. But some cancers are worse than others.

For many AML patients, a stem cell transplant offers the best chance at long-term remission. But here is the human toll.

Prior to a transplant, you have what’s known as high-intensity induction. This is high-dose chemotherapy that essentially wipes out your bone marrow. In doing so, you no longer have a functioning immune system, so you are effectively an in-patient for 3–4 weeks, sequestered in a hospital room that you are not allowed to leave.

For 3–4 weeks, you are in a ~100 square foot room, if you are lucky, it’s larger, and that’s where you remain for close to a month. No in and no out.

Unlike solid tumours, where you come in for chemo and return home after your session, AML necessitates these long hospital stays.

If you make it to transplant, it involves another round of intensive treatment (conditioning) before the transplant itself followed by additional weeks where, once again, you remain an inpatient as your immune system rebuilds itself.

The bravery of these patients to go through such a tough regimen is astounding. The caregivers who support their loved ones, visiting them while they spend weeks on end in hospital, are equally remarkable. And all of this is to hopefully beat the cancer.

On World AML Day, I salute and tip my hat to all the patients for their determination and courage, the caregivers who pretty much put their lives on pause, and the incredible doctors and nurses who manage these patients.