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Timing of side effects after stem cell transplant?
I'll be having a stem cell transplant on April 4. The high-dose chemotherapy will be administered on the 3rd. How soon can I expect to feel the effects of the chemotherapy and how suddenly? How long might they last?
Re: Timing of side effects after stem cell transplant?
My husband started feeling the effects around Day 4. It mostly involved losing his sense of taste and some diarrhea, nothing he couldn't tolerate, although he didn't want to eat while his taste buds were affected.
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TCG - Name: Tara
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Timing of side effects after stem cell transplant?
Other than hair loss after a couple weeks, I really didn't have any side effects from the melphalan. But I did feel seasick from all the antibiotics the whole time I was on them.
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jrj001 - Name: Jim
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/15
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Timing of side effects after stem cell transplant?
Hi Marilyn C,
Everyone is different. Studies typically show the following:
"All of the measured symptoms, with the exception of constipation, clearly deteriorated from baseline to week 2 (Figure 3). Nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue and diarrhea were the symptoms that showed the worst deterioration. As early as assessment week 3 following auto-SCT, the symptom values improved and two months after the transplant all symptom scales had returned to the baseline value. At 1, 2 and 3 years after the transplant patients reported values on the symptom scales similar to those they reported at baseline, except for fatigue and dyspnea at the 3-year assessment, which tended to be improved compared with baseline (Table 2, Figure 3)."
"Patient ratings of overall QoL decreased from baseline and reached the lowest level during the second week (Figure 4). Patients assessed their QoL higher at week 3, and 2 months after transplantation the ratings of overall QoL had returned to a value similar to that before transplantation. Thereafter, values for QoL remained stable in the 1-, 2- and 3-year assessments (Table 2, Figure 4)."
Source:
Frödin, U et al, "A prospective evaluation of patients' health-related quality of life during auto-SCT: a 3-year follow-up," Bone Marrow Transplantation, 2011 (link to full text of article)
Baseline is just prior to getting the high dose chemotherapy. My own experience with the auto was similar to that study. I experienced improvement after the first 2 weeks.
Good luck moving forward.
Mark
Everyone is different. Studies typically show the following:
"All of the measured symptoms, with the exception of constipation, clearly deteriorated from baseline to week 2 (Figure 3). Nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue and diarrhea were the symptoms that showed the worst deterioration. As early as assessment week 3 following auto-SCT, the symptom values improved and two months after the transplant all symptom scales had returned to the baseline value. At 1, 2 and 3 years after the transplant patients reported values on the symptom scales similar to those they reported at baseline, except for fatigue and dyspnea at the 3-year assessment, which tended to be improved compared with baseline (Table 2, Figure 3)."
"Patient ratings of overall QoL decreased from baseline and reached the lowest level during the second week (Figure 4). Patients assessed their QoL higher at week 3, and 2 months after transplantation the ratings of overall QoL had returned to a value similar to that before transplantation. Thereafter, values for QoL remained stable in the 1-, 2- and 3-year assessments (Table 2, Figure 4)."
Source:
Frödin, U et al, "A prospective evaluation of patients' health-related quality of life during auto-SCT: a 3-year follow-up," Bone Marrow Transplantation, 2011 (link to full text of article)
Baseline is just prior to getting the high dose chemotherapy. My own experience with the auto was similar to that study. I experienced improvement after the first 2 weeks.
Good luck moving forward.
Mark
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Mark11
Re: Timing of side effects after stem cell transplant?
Thanks for the info! It really helps me to know, more or less, what to expect.
Re: Timing of side effects after stem cell transplant?
Marilyn,
There are many timelines available on this forum in various posts detailing personal experiences during the autologous stem cell transplant (ACST) process. They detail transplant day-by-day and some include advice on what to pack for the hospital. You can find a list of personal stem cell transplant journals near the bottom of this post, which is pinned to the top of the Treatments & Side Effects section of the forum..
For example, see a quick summary of my timeline in this post.
The single most important advice you can find on this forum is to chew ice before, during and after melphalan infusion. Don't forget to do this and you will thank this forum later
Other non-trivial advice: bring your own pillow, bring long power extension cord and your own entertainment (iPad, laptop, etc.).
All the best!
There are many timelines available on this forum in various posts detailing personal experiences during the autologous stem cell transplant (ACST) process. They detail transplant day-by-day and some include advice on what to pack for the hospital. You can find a list of personal stem cell transplant journals near the bottom of this post, which is pinned to the top of the Treatments & Side Effects section of the forum..
For example, see a quick summary of my timeline in this post.
The single most important advice you can find on this forum is to chew ice before, during and after melphalan infusion. Don't forget to do this and you will thank this forum later
Other non-trivial advice: bring your own pillow, bring long power extension cord and your own entertainment (iPad, laptop, etc.).
All the best!
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Eddie - Name: Eddie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Timing of side effects after stem cell transplant?
Hi, Eddy, and thanks for the tips!
My entire transplant procedure will be done outpatient, barring complications.
I knew about ice during the melphalan infusion, but now I'll start ahead of it and continue afterwards. Thanks!
I'll check out the personal timelines.
My transplant has been postponed indefinitely because I need more and different treatment to get back close to remission. The eight days between induction therapy and the biopsy gave my myeloma a big boost, from 10% to 50%, so it needs to be put back in its place for a few months!
My entire transplant procedure will be done outpatient, barring complications.
I knew about ice during the melphalan infusion, but now I'll start ahead of it and continue afterwards. Thanks!
I'll check out the personal timelines.
My transplant has been postponed indefinitely because I need more and different treatment to get back close to remission. The eight days between induction therapy and the biopsy gave my myeloma a big boost, from 10% to 50%, so it needs to be put back in its place for a few months!
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