We're pleased to report that another member of the Beacon community, MattSchtick (aka Andy), has offered to share updates about his stem cell transplant with all of us.
Andy's updates should be particularly interesting for at least three reasons.
First, Andy will be doing many of his updates via videos created specifically to keep all of us here at the Beacon informed about his progress. As you'll see shortly in Andy's first posting in this thread, he chose to go this route because he thought it might be easier during times when he will not be feeling so well.
Second, Andy plans to do his transplant mostly on an outpatient basis.
Third, Andy is in Australia, so his updates will help broaden the range of different stem cell transplant experiences available to our global community.
Andy's desire to share his stem cell transplant experience was sparked, in part, by Steve Mohr's volunteering to do the same in this ongoing forum thread. We also should mention that Beacon member Karen is also posting occasional updates about her transplant experience in this thread.
If you soon will be doing a transplant and also would like to share your experience, please let us know. We'll be glad to help you do so.
Forums
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
I have been reading Steve Mohr's autologous stem cell transplant diary with interest, as I was going to be following in his footsteps a couple of weeks later, and had always intended to make a series of unrehearsed, unscripted videos for my sister in England.
Then it became evident from Steve that I might have underestimated the task, but at least taking the video route I could just get Jenny (my partner and carer) to click on the webcam and hopefully I would be up to mumbling a few words without having to type.
Then I thought, "Why not use the videos to update the Beacon Family as well?"
So ... here we go!
Get well soon Steve. Good luck to you all on your myeloma journey.
- Andy
Rated PG - No bad language, nudity, or violence.
Then it became evident from Steve that I might have underestimated the task, but at least taking the video route I could just get Jenny (my partner and carer) to click on the webcam and hopefully I would be up to mumbling a few words without having to type.
Then I thought, "Why not use the videos to update the Beacon Family as well?"
So ... here we go!
Get well soon Steve. Good luck to you all on your myeloma journey.
- Andy
Rated PG - No bad language, nudity, or violence.
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Video update recorded on Day -2 (#1)
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Video update recorded on Day -2 (#2)
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Video update recorded on Day -1
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Good luck on your stem cell transplant, Matt! I hope it all goes according to plan. I didn't have too many extra problems with mine, but it still wasn't an easy time. However, I got through it, luckily!
I was interested in what your induction chemo therapy was, and how that went for you. You may have posted this before, sorry if I missed it. Am interested in comparing different countries and their myeloma drug availibilties, actually. I find that in the delivery of drugs in different countries there is quite a wide variation.
We have family in Sydney and my family and I have had the opportunity to visit there several times. We just loved AU! To me, it seemed a bit like the UK in the culture, but with a semi-tropical climate. You could tell that you were in a different continent entirely!
I was interested in what your induction chemo therapy was, and how that went for you. You may have posted this before, sorry if I missed it. Am interested in comparing different countries and their myeloma drug availibilties, actually. I find that in the delivery of drugs in different countries there is quite a wide variation.
We have family in Sydney and my family and I have had the opportunity to visit there several times. We just loved AU! To me, it seemed a bit like the UK in the culture, but with a semi-tropical climate. You could tell that you were in a different continent entirely!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Hi Andy,
What a great idea to put your experience on camera! I have to tell you, I love your Aussie accent!
This is of particular interest to me because a transplant is on the not too distant horizon for my loved one. By doing this, you are helping me and I'm sure countless others here to understand this process. I truly thank you for that.
My thoughts & prayers are with you (and with Jenny!). I'll be watching for updates.
God Bless You,
Kim
What a great idea to put your experience on camera! I have to tell you, I love your Aussie accent!
This is of particular interest to me because a transplant is on the not too distant horizon for my loved one. By doing this, you are helping me and I'm sure countless others here to understand this process. I truly thank you for that.
My thoughts & prayers are with you (and with Jenny!). I'll be watching for updates.
God Bless You,
Kim
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Jerseygyrl - Name: Kim
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My Loved One
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Andy-
Good luck today with your infusion of those precious stem cells. Thank you for videoing your experiences. I'm sure that it will help a lot of people to see what may be the course of recovery from the chemo and transplant.
It's interesting that you will have a homecare nurse visiting each day. Here in the States I've only heard of the outpatient procedure being done where the person reports to the hospital on a daily basis for blood work, etc. Being able to stay at home really could make the whole experience more comfortable.
Again, good luck and I look forward to viewing your daily video journal.
Nancy in Phila
Good luck today with your infusion of those precious stem cells. Thank you for videoing your experiences. I'm sure that it will help a lot of people to see what may be the course of recovery from the chemo and transplant.
It's interesting that you will have a homecare nurse visiting each day. Here in the States I've only heard of the outpatient procedure being done where the person reports to the hospital on a daily basis for blood work, etc. Being able to stay at home really could make the whole experience more comfortable.
Again, good luck and I look forward to viewing your daily video journal.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Thanks Kim, you're very welcome, but I just hope I can do justice to this thread without getting whisked off to hospital too often.
Nancy, I had 3 rounds of 2 weeks on then 1 week off CyBorD [Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Velcade (bortezomib), and dexamethasone], then the stem cell harvest which included the experience of learning to self-inject the subQ stem cell juice Nivestim [filgrastim, Neupogen], then 1 more round of CyBorD.
I found this link on this website somewhere which is a guide for Aussie myeloma treatment.
http://www.myeloma.org.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=55A0pOby0WQ%3d&tabid=40
Apparently, Revlimid is not normally available until after progression (I think that was the terminology) when I asked. Andy
Nancy, I had 3 rounds of 2 weeks on then 1 week off CyBorD [Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Velcade (bortezomib), and dexamethasone], then the stem cell harvest which included the experience of learning to self-inject the subQ stem cell juice Nivestim [filgrastim, Neupogen], then 1 more round of CyBorD.
I found this link on this website somewhere which is a guide for Aussie myeloma treatment.
http://www.myeloma.org.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=55A0pOby0WQ%3d&tabid=40
Apparently, Revlimid is not normally available until after progression (I think that was the terminology) when I asked. Andy
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: MattSchtick's Stem Cell Transplant
Video update recorded on Day 0
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
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