More bad news.

We found out yesterday that the induction chemotherapy didn't work. My mom started talking about watching the grandkids grow up "from the other side." She won't give us any specifics on her prognosis, so I called the American Cancer Society to see if they could give me any more information. They did some research (while I did some of my own) and "bleak" isn't the right word. Of patients who don't see complete remission from their induction chemotherapy (the word for that is primary refractory leukemia), they can get remission in anywhere from 30 - 50% of patients after a second round of induction. Of those who do achieve remission after the second round, 100% will relapse within 6 months. Even if she makes it through to remission, she still has very little time left before it comes back. I'm sure her doctors have told her this, as her outlook has changed a lot in the past couple of days. I can't imagine how hard it must be for her to figure out how to tell everyone.

My sister and I will talk to the doctors on Friday to verify what we're already sure is bad news. I don't know how my dad will ever be able to handle it.