[Rosanna]

Stem cell transplant with obesity & kidney failure?

by Rosanna on Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:59 pm

My brother has been on dialysis for under a year and was just diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He is very overweight and we were told because of his weight he is not a candidate for a stem cell transplant. He also is a diabetic.

Is this something we should not bother to pursue?

He is currently in the hospital and is receiving myeloma treatment orally and intravenously. He has a good appetite, looks good, and has lost a few pounds. but now he has been bedridden due to compressed discs in back. Rehab is next on the agenda.

[Christa's Mom]

Re: Stem cell transplant with obesity & kidney failure?

by Christa's Mom on Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:04 pm

Hi Rosanna,

I remember when we were getting ready for EJ's SCT they told us that there was a woman with obesity and heart issues who had just finished her SCT and she had done fine. Because they knew she had heart issues, they were able to plan for her to be on the heart ward for a few days.

It may just be the hospital you are at. It never hurts to get a second opinion. I'd go to a major medical center that has a good SCT program, and myeloma.

Best of luck to your brother,

Lyn

[BethK]

Re: Stem cell transplant with obesity & kidney failure?

by BethK on Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:46 am

My husband is recovering from a stem cell transplant. He is between obese and overweight and has been on dialysis for over 1 year. It took 3 attempts to get to transplant. During testing for the first attempt, it was determined that multiple myeloma may have caused some heart damage, so it was decided to try a newer drug that put him in partial remission. The second time had to be delayed several month due to infection. The third time he was placed on anti­biotics very early in the process and monitored very closely. The doctor told us a stem cell transplant was high risk, with as much as a 15% chance of mortality during transplant.

We initially decided against transplant due to a high mortality risk, but after speaking with several other doctors and strong encouragement from our doctor, we decided to go ahead.

The transplant was easier to handle than expected, and my husband was out of hospital in less then 2 weeks, with no complications. Recovery has been slow. We are just past the 100 day mark. Husband is in very good partial remission. He has not been able to return to work because he works in health care and has to wait for the flu season to end, but otherwise would have been cleared to return.

We were also told that only a very small number of hospitals will transplant patients on dialysis. Advances in treatments are happening very quickly. Unfortunately, being on dialysis excludes patients from most research studies.

Best wishes to your brother. This has been a roller coaster (22 months since diagnosis), but each day is a new chance to fight.