Question about SCT

[KWJ]

Do any of you know if different hospitals have different criteria for doing SCT? My dad was turned down at OHSU because they will only do it on 10% or less blasts. He is at 12% after 2 rounds of dacogen. No change in BMB and now he has to have platelets transfused too and his red blood transfusions went form every 2 weeks to every week now. All his counts are in the toilet. His docter has said nothing else to try except maybe SCT at the Hutch. He figures though that they will turn him down too because of blasts %?? Any ideas?

[patti]

KWJ,

My understanding (and it’s pretty limited) is that SCT’s are done with less than 5% blasts in the marrow which is considered to be remission.

My MIL has had greater than 30% blasts in her marrow for over 2yrs. They’ve actually gotten rid of the RAEB diagnosis and now say that anything greater then 20% blasts is leukemia. She’s been doing natural treatments for the past two years and is holding her own pretty well, feels good and is starting to see an upswing in her hgb from the treatment she’s been doing. It’s not a quick fix that’s for sure and we are definately racing against time, but at least she feels good.

As for the SCT – is it possible to do one more round of the chemo to see if his blasts go down and then go for the SCT? I’m sure you are aware that an SCT carries much risk with it.

Hang in there.

Patti

[willie]

KWJ Call the SCCA. You will get a return call from a doctor who will question you as to what is going on. That doctor will give you a realistic opinion on an SCT. They appear to be willing to take riskier clients.
Willie

[Jimbob]

KWJ,
Natural methods and SCT are not really alternative options; they can work well together. I do reccommend that you do call the Hutch do see what information they can give you but also follow up on the natural methods that have helped Patti’s mother-in-law and others – including me! Also, Portland does have other good centers for SCT including Providencand NW Cancer Specialists. NW Cancer S0pecialists is near the Rose Quarter and the Broadway bridge. I had an extremely worthwhile consult with Dr. Daniel Gruenberg there. I highly reccommend you check them out.

btw, I do not think that high blasts are the only criteria OHSU uses. My blasts went up to over 95% – nothing but sludge in the blood – before they were able to bring it back done with hemopherisis, chemo, accidentlal bloodletting, and total body irradiation. Not a normal treatment path.

[KWJ]

Thanks everyone…I talked to a doctor at teh Hutch yesterday, he was very optimistic about the options left.

Dad currently see Dr Seigel at the Rose Quarter Cancer Center, the doc did his studies at the Hutch so that has been an option all along. OHSu turned him down because his blasts were over 10%, that is the only criteria he did not meet.

Dr Witherspoon explained that they do much riskier stuff and his blast % was ok to still do the SCT.

I totally understand the risks, it scares the crap out of me but my dad really wants to do it. My parents have an appt on Oct 11 for an interview and the doc there said they could so the SCT as soon as a week after. So soon I guess. Yikes.

His doc here does not want to do another dose of dacogen because it has changed nothing only made hid counts worse. I wonder why too how come we can’t do more. But it seems like the Hutch hasa lots more options.

My parents are ready to go. Does anyone know if the Hutch has RV parking? I will go research – maybe I can find out!

[Author]

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