After Stem Cell Transplant

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  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #22
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    Great

    Super, Linda.

    Forward progress is progess..... I have not studied SCT, but I suppose using your own cells is safer and easier ?

    max

    Donor vs own

    From what I've read. 

    When donor t-cells are used the problem is GvHD (graft versus host disease). Everyone has heard of an organ recepient having problems with their body trying to reject the organ so they take drugs to reduce the rejection. With donated t-cells it is the new t-cells that think the recipient's body is the foreign object and tries to attack it. So the patient has to take drugs to prevent that from happening. Such a reaction can also kill off any remaining cancer cells.

    When a person's own t-cells are used there is no worry about the rejection. The down side is tha tthe immune system is the same one that allowed the cancer to grow in the first place. From what I've read this is considered to be easier on the patient. 

    I also found out I am not getting Neulasta this time around. I am getting a Neupogen shot each day for 3 days, starting today. I was warend that I could have some bone pain as the marrow kicks into high gear to produce more white cells. I also will have to have a blood test done every week for 3 weeks to make sure the counts are going up. I am still waiting to hear when the CT & PET scans will be done. 

    Suddenly I am having that feeling of panic of "what do I need to get done before I go in to the hospital for the procedure?". I still have my lists from back in Nov but that doesn't stop my brain from going into high gear.

     

     

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #23
    OO7 said:

    Good News

    Linda, I'm happy the latest bone marrow results showed no evidence of genetic abnormalities or lymphoma, Wa hooooo!!!  What great news and seems like time is on your side.  Any idea why they did in the past (not 100% sure if they did), false positive???  Drugs kicking butt???  Prayers answered!

    Sorry counts are down, story of my recent life.  Take care of those and yourself.  

    How are you feeling, tired???

    Hope you're well!

    counts low

    I did asked if the Rituxan could have killed off those cells but the dr said 'no'. Something about it being a genetic attribute that Rituxan wouldn't catch. The Dr said they studied the latest biopsy very closely to make sure they didn't see any of the abnormal cells. 

    I start feeling tired and having little energy back in 2014. I was also having problems walking a lot. My dr found I had some leaking veins which were closed off that same year. The day I had the second vein worked on I saw my dr to find out the results of the thyroid test and she said it was off and changed my meds. That was also the day the mass was found in my abdomen. How much of my feeling tired was from the cancer versus the thyroid, I'll never know. All I can say is that even though I do feel tired all the time it is nothing like it was in 2014. There ar edays I really don't feel too bad. but it is all relative. I do know I need to get 7 - 9 hour sleep to feel goof the next day. Less than 7 I am really tired at the end of the day and more than 9 I am dragging. 

    So I just hope those blood cell counts get up there and everything continues to go smoothly. 

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #24
    lindary said:

    waiting for new schedule

    The dr in charge of the SCT just had me get a new bone marrow biopsy. I am still waiting to hear when we are going to do it. I haven't heard yet if my brother is a match or not. I have a feelings things will start rolling in the next few weeks.

    SCT moving forward

    Saw the SCT dr last Tues. My blood test showed the white cells were very low so I got 3 days of neupogen shots. I believe I am going to have go into for blood tests for the next 2 - 3 weeks. I am also scheduled for another meeting with the SCT dr the beginning of March. My guess is that if the blood counts are good we will be talking about the schedule for the SCT. Based on the schedelu from last Nov, it looks like I will be starting the SCT mid-March. Starting to pull my stuff together again. 

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