[Callie]

All good questions. For #4 - they can run for blasts at the same time as a CBC - known as blasts in the peripheral blood - but I believe it's a separate test from the normal CBC and more accurate reading from a BMB (bone marrow biopsy). Given my dad's history and frequency of CBCs, we never knew why they didn't test this more frequently. A good indicator, though, of blasts increasing is (at first) a rapid decline of platelets and whites, then if the disease has progressed significantly, a rapid increase in whites. #6 - There are several members here who may be able to offer some great advice for this, including naturals herbs/vitamins/etc. (may want to start a separate post so they see this particular question).