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Stem cell transplant at Sloan-Kettering (MSKCC)?
Looking for those who have had their autologous stem cell transplant done at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) to share their experiences with me.
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Halches - Name: Carol S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 7/15
- Age at diagnosis: 73
Re: Stem cell transplant at Sloan-Kettering (MSKCC)?
Hello, Hatches,
My wife had an autologous stem cell transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC) in February 2015 after induction. In the posting pinned to the top of the "Treatments and side effects" section of the forum, "Useful links to existing forum discussions", there are a number of links to forum threads where people have posted their stem cell transplant experiences. Look near the bottom of the posting.
Reading those postings would be helpful, as the approach is a "protocol" that is largely very similar between all of the major centers.
Regarding MSKCC, it is the largest center in the area, with the largest support staff of transplant doctors and all of the support areas (cardiac, organs, etc.). The entire staff, down to the food servers and the persons cleaning the rooms, are well trained, professional, and supportive. They will give you a thorough package for preparation.
Your main issues will be whether or not you will be inpatient our outpatient. It is a little easier to be inpatient. Last February the weather was very, very cold, so inpatient was better for us. In the spring, you might want to take the 4 to 5 block walk to their outpatient hotel (the Helmsley Medical Towers). The major decisions you will have to make going in is the best, most comfortable clothes, and decisions along that line.
You will be potentially be able to find centers that are in the ballpark, close, or arguably equal. I do not think that you will be able to find any that are clearly better.
Regards, JPC
My wife had an autologous stem cell transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC) in February 2015 after induction. In the posting pinned to the top of the "Treatments and side effects" section of the forum, "Useful links to existing forum discussions", there are a number of links to forum threads where people have posted their stem cell transplant experiences. Look near the bottom of the posting.
Reading those postings would be helpful, as the approach is a "protocol" that is largely very similar between all of the major centers.
Regarding MSKCC, it is the largest center in the area, with the largest support staff of transplant doctors and all of the support areas (cardiac, organs, etc.). The entire staff, down to the food servers and the persons cleaning the rooms, are well trained, professional, and supportive. They will give you a thorough package for preparation.
Your main issues will be whether or not you will be inpatient our outpatient. It is a little easier to be inpatient. Last February the weather was very, very cold, so inpatient was better for us. In the spring, you might want to take the 4 to 5 block walk to their outpatient hotel (the Helmsley Medical Towers). The major decisions you will have to make going in is the best, most comfortable clothes, and decisions along that line.
You will be potentially be able to find centers that are in the ballpark, close, or arguably equal. I do not think that you will be able to find any that are clearly better.
Regards, JPC
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Stem cell transplant at Sloan-Kettering (MSKCC)?
Hi Hatches,
I had an autologous stem cell transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering in May 2013. I second all the positive comments JPC made about MSK.
I also did inpatient for my transplant. I'm in a clinical trial and the trial protocol calls for inpatient, so it really wasn't a choice I needed to make.
On Day +8 I developed an E. coli infection that pretty quickly sent me into septic shock. The nurses and physicians were on top of the situation immediately. I ended up in the intensive care unit for 3 days, but got a better room when I got out of the ICU, with a great view of the Queensboro Bridge.
It's hard to tell exactly why I got the infection. The best theory seems to be that E. coli bacteria in my gut (which we all have) multiplied when my immune system went down and then escaped into my bloodstream, perhaps because I had a small ulcer that I never knew about. My point is that I don't think it's MSK's fault hat I got the infection. Just bad luck. And they dealt with it quickly and successfully.
Best wishes. Whatever you decide.
Mike
I had an autologous stem cell transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering in May 2013. I second all the positive comments JPC made about MSK.
I also did inpatient for my transplant. I'm in a clinical trial and the trial protocol calls for inpatient, so it really wasn't a choice I needed to make.
On Day +8 I developed an E. coli infection that pretty quickly sent me into septic shock. The nurses and physicians were on top of the situation immediately. I ended up in the intensive care unit for 3 days, but got a better room when I got out of the ICU, with a great view of the Queensboro Bridge.
It's hard to tell exactly why I got the infection. The best theory seems to be that E. coli bacteria in my gut (which we all have) multiplied when my immune system went down and then escaped into my bloodstream, perhaps because I had a small ulcer that I never knew about. My point is that I don't think it's MSK's fault hat I got the infection. Just bad luck. And they dealt with it quickly and successfully.
Best wishes. Whatever you decide.
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Stem cell transplant at Sloan-Kettering (MSKCC)?
Thanks for replies. I know MSKCC won't be the most convenient hospitals to do this SCT. However, my husband has been a patient there twice and has a lot of confidence in the staff and physicians there so that is where he wants to have it done.
Did either of you drive there? If so, what about parking? How expensive? How was it handling the traffic (it's pretty bad from the backseat of a cab).
Did either of you drive there? If so, what about parking? How expensive? How was it handling the traffic (it's pretty bad from the backseat of a cab).
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Halches - Name: Carol S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 7/15
- Age at diagnosis: 73
Re: Stem cell transplant at Sloan-Kettering (MSKCC)?
Hi Hatches,
Normally we take the train and subway when we go to MSK. My wife and I both hate driving in NYC. There is parking right at MSK, but it is very busy, including a waiting line to get in.
However, there are other parking facilities nearby. I forget what the rates are, but you can assume that they are pretty high.
Good luck with the decision.
Mike
Normally we take the train and subway when we go to MSK. My wife and I both hate driving in NYC. There is parking right at MSK, but it is very busy, including a waiting line to get in.
However, there are other parking facilities nearby. I forget what the rates are, but you can assume that they are pretty high.
Good luck with the decision.
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Stem cell transplant at Sloan-Kettering (MSKCC)?
Hello Hatches:
Parking for MSKCC. Hmmmmm. That's a challenge. For the parking run by the hospital, if you get there by 9 am, it is usually OK, and you can get in.
They never close it. What they do is that if they are full, they just let the line grow longer and longer around the block. For appointments, our worst case to get in was about 1.5 hours just to wait on the parking line. From what I hear, sometimes it gets worse than that. For my wife's ASCT, I had us dropped off, as I stayed in the room for about the first 14 days, at which time I got picked up, again, and commuted the next week or so.
So you need to strategize. Take an UBER from Penn station (e.g.) or some such thing. However, if you arrive before 8 am, you can probably park. If you arrive from 9 am to 3 pm, very challenging.
Parking for MSKCC. Hmmmmm. That's a challenge. For the parking run by the hospital, if you get there by 9 am, it is usually OK, and you can get in.
They never close it. What they do is that if they are full, they just let the line grow longer and longer around the block. For appointments, our worst case to get in was about 1.5 hours just to wait on the parking line. From what I hear, sometimes it gets worse than that. For my wife's ASCT, I had us dropped off, as I stayed in the room for about the first 14 days, at which time I got picked up, again, and commuted the next week or so.
So you need to strategize. Take an UBER from Penn station (e.g.) or some such thing. However, if you arrive before 8 am, you can probably park. If you arrive from 9 am to 3 pm, very challenging.
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JPC - Name: JPC
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