11/06/2026
What is AML? | ๐๏ธ
When our father, Ronald Villamora, was diagnosed three weeks ago, most of us had never heard these three letters. So we set out to understand them โ and we're sharing what we learned, in case it helps another family who suddenly finds themselves here too.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
๐น Acute โ it moves quickly, in weeks rather than years, which is why treatment can't wait.
๐น Myeloid โ it affects one specific line of blood cells.
In a healthy body, bone marrow produces mature blood cells that carry oxygen, help blood clot, and fight infection.
In AML, the marrow instead produces immature cells that don't function and crowd out the healthy ones. That's why patients often feel exhausted, bruise or bleed easily, and become vulnerable to infection.
A few things we've learned that surprised us:
๐น It isn't contagious, and it isn't anyone's fault.
๐น It's diagnosed through a blood count (CBC) and a bone marrow exam.
๐น It's treated with chemotherapy given in cycles โ a long road, not a single procedure.
We're documenting this journey so that AML feels a little less frightening for the next person who hears it.
Knowledge doesn't cure the disease, but it does take away some of the fear.
Our father has spent more than two decades in honest public service. Now it's our turn to show up for him. ๐
