[Spirit]

Re: Any positive experiences with ASCT?

by Spirit on Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:50 pm

Thank you for all the positive posts. It was good to hear this information. I have an appointment this week with the stem cell transplant doctor at my cancer treatment center.

[allenbonslett]

Re: Any positive experiences with ASCT?

by allenbonslett on Tue May 19, 2015 10:17 am

I was diagnosed at 43 in 2003 with stage III multiple myeloma, 3 bone lesions in my right femur, biopsy from pelvis showed 80% cancer cells and I was severely anemic (hemoglobin was at 7.0).

Thalidomide and dex for 9 months led up to the first ASCT in 2004. Thalidomide maintenance followed until 2008 when it started waking up again. A change to Revlimid led to the 2nd ASCT in 2009 with the balance of stem cells that were harvested back in 2004.

2015 now and it's waking up again. Is this a positive experience? 12 years is a lot longer than I thought I'd have back in 2003. Bad times weren't too heavy or long. But there is that feeling of going down the rabbit hole again.