[goldmine848]

Re: Looking for help with stem cell transplant decision

by goldmine848 on Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:34 pm

I started a similar thread when I was deciding whether go to transplant. Ultimately, I decided to do the transplant which occurred on 1/28 of this year. Honestly, the side effects where not that bad and have almost entirely disappeared. So from a quality of life standpoint, at least for me, it was a good choice. Of course, only time will tell how effective the treatment was.

Of course, I did not have the limitations mentioned by the immediately previous poster; I have good insurance and the ability to work from home or take paid time off. That certainly affected the decision.

[Karen]

Re: Looking for help with stem cell transplant decision

by Karen on Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:27 pm

Thanks to everyone for your replies!

I guess at this point I am on the track for having the transplant, although I did get the doctor to agree that I could wait until late June/July. My oldest son is graduating from college in mid-May and I did not want to risk having it before then and not feeling up to traveling. I'm on this Cytoxan/Velcade/dex regimen which is working well, so it looks like they'll just keep me on that until transplant time.

I finally decided that the possibility of getting into a good, deep remission, and hopefully having to take fewer drugs, after transplant, was worth going through the process and dealing with whatever the recovery will be. My doctors all keep saying that they think I will "bounce back fast" because of my "youth" (haha) and otherwise good health. I hope they're right!

I am encouraged by those who have said that the transplant process wasn't as bad as they'd feared. I hope I'm in that group as well. Really, I think the main thing that I hate is the idea of not being in control, having to be shut up in the hospital for 2-3 weeks. I will have to adjust my thinking, I know!

Best wishes to all of you!

Karen