Aloha Bijou,
I listened to the whole explanation of the basics by the Mayo Clinic hematologist. Did I understand correctly that the 2 main symptoms are the enlarged spleen or anemia? If so, then the person I knew who had this same diagnosis had the anemia and for it he received regular blood transplants. He was a very white man, but he did become a lot whiter, but he didn't lose weight. Ultimately he lost his life when he got a tooth infection. So, you know of course to be very quick to deal with infections? I will ask my sister-in-law to come in and post more as it was her father and it is well over 15 years ago so I don't remember the details.
Well I wanted to add a photo of you with a couple of tennis friends, but the Picture icon in the editor won't let me do it. I was also going to post a video that has a great song but I also couldn't figure that one out. Help Web Master!!!!
Whatever you do, you do creatively, and I am sad to hear of this diagnosis, full of hope that you will be in the risk category in the middle, and glad to be invited along on your journey. I am very averse to going on Facebook and blogs, but I will try to overcome that for you.
Au revoir, Shanti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWVshkVF0SY

Thank you Shanti, for overcoming your dislike of posting and doing so. I loved the Universe song. That was great, and yes I do know of the risk of infection. Thank you for the reminder. It is why I got MRSA so badly (for three months) and why I nearly died of Swine flu and pneumonia. Its scary .... I am even careful with my hugs now! But still playing tennis every day, and living each and every day to the fullest. The difference is I am allowing more for quiet time, and rest. That is important to heal and it is something I am guilty of not doing.
Well glad you didn't post a photo just yet because the real me, is not public yet! Just Bijou for now. I'll help you post a photo later.
Hugs & love
Bijou

Aloha,
As Shanti mentioned, my father had a blood cancer (aplastic anemia 15 years ago). At the time, the only treatment offered was a bone marrow trasnplant which he unfortunately never received as secondary infections took hold. His journey with cancer led me into my own process of discovery for all that my profession of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine could offer to cancer patients. I was able to attend a "Acupuncture for the Cancer Patient" training at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC and have since treated literally hundreds of cancer patients. The role of acupuncture and Chinese herbs being to minimize the side effects of Western treatments such as chemo, radiation and surgery, and support the immune system to protect against infection. If you want more information or just want to talk, I'm available.

Thank you Joni for your post.
I am very interested to talk with you further about this. I will get your information from Shanti. I have a dear friend who has "beaten" stage 4 non-hodgkens lymphona twice and is ten years in remission right now! She did have to have massive Chemo and radiation however she did do medical accupuncture, laser accupuncture and Eastern medicine protocols with her treatment. Ultimately she did a stem cell transplant and did the Eastern modalities with that and she feels the accupuncture and other Eastern treatments were for the most part why she survived the western treatments. She will celebrate her 10th "birthday" (the day the stem cell "took" this year.) She is beautiful, a dancer and is coming out with a book soon that will share the adjunct modalities she used.
I'd like to call you at the end of the month. Again thanks so much for posting.
Bijou.

My doctor is talking about a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. I have heard that this is very hard on the patient. I would like to get info from someone who has had this procedure, also interested in acupuncture. Diagnosed in2/12 with myelofibrosis.