Greetings all,
My doctor's first recommendation was for me to go to Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC, under Dr Jagannath, for stem cell harvest and transplant. After considering the logistics, it would be much easier for me to do the work at a treatment center in Philadelphia. My wife has an apartment there, and she works a second shift, which means she would be free to visit me any morning and afternoon up to about 2:00 PM. Her trek to NYC would take nearly four hours one way. It's also much easier for me to drive to her apartment (an hour away), park indefinitely on her street, and take simple public transportation to and from the center for all the procedures, with a minimum of walking.
Although my present preference seems to be the Abramson Center at the U of Penn Hospital, I'm also considering the Kimmel Center at Thomas Jefferson, and Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple U School of Medicine. All these hospitals are approved by my doctor and are within my insurance network.
I would thus welcome very much any comments and suggestions anyone here would like to make concerning their own transplant experiences at any of these institutions.
Many thanks,
Tom
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SBarro - Name: Thomas Tonon
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 69
Re: SCT in Philadelphia, PA - experiences?
Tom-
I don't know that the transplant experiences at Penn are really any different from those at Jefferson or Fox Chase (done at Jeannes Hospital). I had mine at Penn in Jan 2010. I had a good experience there with very attentive nurses and doctors.
My only complaint was the food service. I had severe nausea which wasn't controlled with any of the medications. The only things that I could keep down were water, tea and chicken broth. I would order several servings of chicken broth for each meal and was only brought one - 1/2 cup of broth. I didn't complain, so didn't ever get any more. Obviously that meant that I was losing weight quickly. The dietician had them put a can of Ensure on my tray for every meal. I didn't tolerate that and never drank more than a swallow from the first can. Because there were 2 blizzards during the time that I was in the hospital, it was difficult for my sister to come visit. So, she couldn't bring me what I could tolerate to eat. Some of my problems with the lack of food are my own fault.
I was in the hospital a total of 17 days from admission prior to melphalan infusion to discharge. I was in the hospital a day longer than they thought was needed because, on the original discharge date, we were having a blizzard. I live a mile from the hospital, so my follow-up appointments were at Penn, as is my continuing care. I know that others who live distant from Penn have fewer follow up visits at Penn before they are transferred back to their home oncologist for care. During the first year post transplant, one person I know is being seen at Penn every 3 months and I think monthly at home. All blood work and pre-testing can be done at home, with the results sent to the doctor at Penn. So, the need to come into Phila isn't all that often.
There are 5 doctors on the Myeloma team: Dr. Stadtmauer (my doctor), Dr. Vogl, Dr. Weiss, Dr. Cohen (a Beacon Medical Advisor), and a newly hired doctor whose name I don't know. Each of them is very caring and involved in various aspects of research in myeloma. You couldn't go wrong with any of them.
If you would like any more information, feel free to send me a private message.
Nancy in Phila
I don't know that the transplant experiences at Penn are really any different from those at Jefferson or Fox Chase (done at Jeannes Hospital). I had mine at Penn in Jan 2010. I had a good experience there with very attentive nurses and doctors.
My only complaint was the food service. I had severe nausea which wasn't controlled with any of the medications. The only things that I could keep down were water, tea and chicken broth. I would order several servings of chicken broth for each meal and was only brought one - 1/2 cup of broth. I didn't complain, so didn't ever get any more. Obviously that meant that I was losing weight quickly. The dietician had them put a can of Ensure on my tray for every meal. I didn't tolerate that and never drank more than a swallow from the first can. Because there were 2 blizzards during the time that I was in the hospital, it was difficult for my sister to come visit. So, she couldn't bring me what I could tolerate to eat. Some of my problems with the lack of food are my own fault.
I was in the hospital a total of 17 days from admission prior to melphalan infusion to discharge. I was in the hospital a day longer than they thought was needed because, on the original discharge date, we were having a blizzard. I live a mile from the hospital, so my follow-up appointments were at Penn, as is my continuing care. I know that others who live distant from Penn have fewer follow up visits at Penn before they are transferred back to their home oncologist for care. During the first year post transplant, one person I know is being seen at Penn every 3 months and I think monthly at home. All blood work and pre-testing can be done at home, with the results sent to the doctor at Penn. So, the need to come into Phila isn't all that often.
There are 5 doctors on the Myeloma team: Dr. Stadtmauer (my doctor), Dr. Vogl, Dr. Weiss, Dr. Cohen (a Beacon Medical Advisor), and a newly hired doctor whose name I don't know. Each of them is very caring and involved in various aspects of research in myeloma. You couldn't go wrong with any of them.
If you would like any more information, feel free to send me a private message.
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: SCT in Philadelphia, PA - experiences?
I had my transplant done at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in August 2014. I highly recommend it. Nurses and facilities are excellent. I was there for about 3 weeks. Dr. Wagner was the doctor I saw prior to, during, and after. He is excellent.
Good luck and let me know if you need more info.
Good luck and let me know if you need more info.
Re: SCT in Philadelphia, PA - experiences?
My daughter had her SCT at Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia also. They were wonderful. It was like she had her own personal nursing team. We did have to wear gowns and masks for her protection. The staff was very helpful giving us guidance & information.
Re: SCT in Philadelphia, PA - experiences?
Thank you Nancy, Pjperno, and Terrij for your very helpful comments. I will use your inputs in making my decision where to go for the transplant. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.
I did have an additional question that I forgot to ask: Does Einstein Medical in Philly do transplants? Anyone with experience there? Thanks again.
Tom
I did have an additional question that I forgot to ask: Does Einstein Medical in Philly do transplants? Anyone with experience there? Thanks again.
Tom
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SBarro - Name: Thomas Tonon
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 69
Re: SCT in Philadelphia, PA - experiences?
Tom-
I don't think Einstein does transplants. I haven't heard of them being in the mix here for them. Penn at HUP and at Pennsylvania Hospital, Jefferson, and Temple/Fox Chase are the transplant centers in Philadelphia that I know about.
Just as an FYI for people who are Jehovah's Witnesses: Dr. Ford at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia does bloodless auto transplants. She is known throughout the USA and the world for this, since she is one of the only doctors who does this. People with myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, etc., come from all over for treatment without the use of blood transfusions. Pennsylvania Hospital is part of the Abramson Cancer Center.
Nancy in Phila
I don't think Einstein does transplants. I haven't heard of them being in the mix here for them. Penn at HUP and at Pennsylvania Hospital, Jefferson, and Temple/Fox Chase are the transplant centers in Philadelphia that I know about.
Just as an FYI for people who are Jehovah's Witnesses: Dr. Ford at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia does bloodless auto transplants. She is known throughout the USA and the world for this, since she is one of the only doctors who does this. People with myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, etc., come from all over for treatment without the use of blood transfusions. Pennsylvania Hospital is part of the Abramson Cancer Center.
Nancy in Phila
-
NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
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