[IndianFriend]

Re: Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant at Providence Portland

by IndianFriend on Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:28 pm

AnneV

Good luck. I wish for your speedy recovery.

My father also need to go thru same soon. We are yet to make our mind.

Can you tell me what is 'del(17p) high-risk'?

Regards,
Ashish

[Jonah]

Re: Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant at Providence Portland

by Jonah on Sun Jul 19, 2015 1:38 am

Ashish,

Del(17p) is a chromosomal abnormality that a type of laboratory test, known as FISH testing, can find in myeloma cells found in a patient's bone marrow sample (from a bone marrow biopsy). Chromosomal abnormalities found through FISH testing are a standard way of classifying how aggressive a patient's myeloma is likely to be; or, to put it another way, how likely a patient's disease is to respond to treatment. More aggressive disease is called "higher-risk", or "high-risk" disease.

If you look over the treatment guidelines for multiple myeloma from the Mayo Clinic, which JPC mentioned in a response to your question in another thread, you'll see the risk classification that the myeloma specialists there use. You can find the guidelines here:

http://www.msmart.org/about.html (look for the ones for newly diagnosed myeloma patients)

Myeloma is not a disease you can educate yourself about in just an hour or two. I check Beacon articles and the forum daily, and I still learn something new just about every day. If you haven't already, start working your way through the articles and postings here in the forum, little by little, and you'll pick up a lot. And you'll pick up more if you check in regularly, which will make you better prepared when you have to help your father make treatment decisions both now and in the future.

[TerryH]

Re: Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant at Providence Portland

by TerryH on Sun Jul 19, 2015 8:16 am

Good luck with your transplant, Anne, and thanks for sharing with us how it goes. I hope there aren't too many challenges along the way and that you get a great response from the two doses of melphalan that you've received.

[ByYourSide]

Re: Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant at Providence Portland

by ByYourSide on Mon Jul 20, 2015 7:50 pm

Hi Anne! Good luck to you with the whole process! And may you have a speedy recovery!
My husband, age 66, was diagnosed Dec 19, 2014 and we are now in the mobilization phase for the SCT. His transplant is scheduled to start on Aug 2nd; 2 days of Melphalan and the stem cells are transfused on Aug 5th. He is getting treatment through Dana-Farber.
Since we must travel a distance from home for treatment, he wants to be sure he takes all personal items that he might need for his stay. They gave us a simple list and it seems like he won't need much, but if there is anything that you could tell us that you brought and was glad that you did, it would be helpful. I won't be around the corner to bring stuff to him; it's a 2 1/2 hour drive to Boston.
Sending good wishes, and prayers!
Susan

[Jonah]

Re: Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant at Providence Portland

by Jonah on Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:20 pm

Hi Susan,

There are several discussions here in the forum that may give you useful tips for your husband's upcoming transplant:

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/stem-cell-transplant-tip-t4764.html

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/transplant-experiences-any-updates-tips-t3399.html

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/stem-cell-transplant-tips-advice-t4582.html

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/stem-cell-transplant-tomorrow-advice-t2368.html

Also, if you want a really, really detailed account of a single patient's transplant experience, be sure to check out Allison's thread about her mother's stem cell transplant. It was longer and there were more complications than in many cases, but it will really give you a "you are there" feel:

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/inpatient-stem-cell-transplant-caregiver-perspective-t4538.html

KimT's account of her transplant is also very detailed -- and inspiring (you'll see what I mean):

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/kimt-stem-cell-transplant-stanford-t3705.html

Good luck!

[Cheryl G]

Re: Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant at Providence Portland

by Cheryl G on Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:21 am

Hi Anne,

Just wanted to let you know that I've been thinking of you and hoping that you are doing okay. Will you be getting out of the hospital soon?

Best wishes,

Cheryl