Stem Cell Transplant
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- This topic has 6 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 18 years, 11 months ago by eve.
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May 31, 2005 at 1:39 pm #6562ChristinaMember
Hi, I will be leaving with my parents in a few days to go to Seattle – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center to discuss the possibility of a stem cell tansplant for my dad. There has been a lot of buzzing about this and I can’t wait to get more information. If anyone has any advise regarding this and can offer questions for me to bring to Seattle please do!! I will share my info. with you all when I return!
May 31, 2005 at 2:17 pm #6563JoannieMemberHI Christina!
Can’t offer any advise, as I don’t know much about it. I wish you all the luck and Gods blessing in the world! Look forward to hearing the news when you get back. Take care, Joan
May 31, 2005 at 10:42 pm #6564AniMemberHello Christina,
I hope I’m not going to “muddy the waters”with what I’m about to write.
My 43 years old son in law had a Stem Cell transplant some 6 weeks ago for Plasmacytoma,I guess a “cousin” to MDS.
He had his OWN cells transplanted after he was treated with huge doses of chemo, had his cells harvested and then growth hormones to stimulate the new cells’ growth. Has just completed his anti viral meds and is looking forward to returning to Canada. He had to go back to Australia as he did not qualify for medical treatment in Canada, however the good news is that his specialist has advised him he can return here in the middle of June.
I do understand that many/most SCT’s are done with donors, he has several siblings but the decision was to use his cells. This episode has been most unfortunate as he had applied for Landed Immigrant status here in Canada and we are now very concerned that he will be rejected because of his “history”.
Hope all goes well at the Hutch.
Shalom,
Ani,May 31, 2005 at 10:47 pm #6565SuzanneMemberThat is a totally different type of tranplant then one from a donor or matched sibling. Christina, good luck to your Dad and your family. You are going to what I have heard is the best place in the world for a transplant. We will look forward to news.
May 31, 2005 at 11:05 pm #6566TerriMemberAll the Best Christina, Will be praying for your dad
June 1, 2005 at 2:25 am #6567Bill and MaryMemberChristina,
I am currently waitng for a transplant at the Hutch. Hope to have it on the 14th.
I guess if you have to have this disease and are looking at having a transplant, this is the place to do it. They do all types of them and the staff is just first rate. As I have said before, getting here felt like a breath of fresh air, they actually understand what you are going through. More than that, they have a possible procedure to address the problem. I would suggest that you take full advantage of the tours they provide, not only of the SCCA facility but also the UW hospital tour of the 8th floor where they do the procedure.
Before you go you might want to make sure you understand the limits of your insurance. Some insurers say they do not cover the cost of donor search. This is stupid, you cannot get a BMT without one. I have seen much advice on how to get them to cover it on this site and the BMTinfo site. The costs are really staggering for the search, the procedure and the 100 days of living expenses you need to have in Seattle. Some insurance covers the latter, some doesn’t.
As far as questions, the orientation you will get is very through and covers just about everything you can imagine plus a buch you hadn’t a clue about. They will give you a booklet on “Preparing for a Transplant” that covers all they aspects of the procedure and life before and after.
The questions I had, and have, do not have answers – yet. Like – What are the chances that I will get a certain type of gvhd? How severe will gvhd be? Basically you won’t know until you get there. They can tell you all the statistics and probabilities but you are an individual and it will be different for you.
You are coming to a facility that is first rate with a staff to match. From what I hear and have seen over the month I have been here is that they are very proactive. They recognize and start treatment on symptoms you do not even recognize you have. It is very reassuring albeit a bit scarry.
Good Luck!
June 1, 2005 at 2:30 am #6568eveMemberdear christina
hope the trip goes well and you get all the information you need to make a comfortable decision on the next course of action – i would check with your dad’s hemodoc to see if he wants him on any antibiotics prophylatically because airplanes are such a breeding ground for germs
good luck – prayers are with you all
eve
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