So my husband has been referred to the transplant team after getting his levels mostly under control after just two cycles of cyclophosphamide, bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone (CyBorD). His doctor figures the next two cycles will bring him under control, so said he would initiate the process.
He said we should expect to hear from them in the next 2 weeks or so.
We are wondering if there is anything related to the stem cell transplant process in Alberta that is different from what it is like elsewhere. For example, what are the wait times from referral to actually having it done? Also, what is the usual length of the hospital stay? We live 2.5 hours from the hospital it would be done at and have three kids, all school age.
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JackieO - Name: JackieO
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2, 2018
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Stem cell transplants in Alberta
Hello Jackie,
I am glad to hear that your husband is doing so well and can proceed to the transplant process soon. I live in Calgary and had my transplant done at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Also in Edmonton at the Cross Cancer Centre transplants are done. In Calgary, there is some accommodation for out of town patients and families, but I think you should inquire about this soon. Maybe you could look into having someone look after your children off and on during this process too.
The lead up to the transplant includes a lot of testing, including lung strength, heart tests, the ever present blood tests, and I remember having another bone marrow biopsy too. This was all back in the late autumn of 2009, and I don't know how these procedures may have changed since then.
It is quite a time consuming process, since first the stem cells must be harvested, which takes a long day (or more). I had that done at the apheresis unit at the Foothills Hospital. The lead up to that was quite tiring, since I took cyclophosphamide (the only time I took that) plus a marrow boosting drug that encouraged growth of the stem cells in the marrow. That drug was given by injection. Once the stem cells had increased so much that they burst out into the peripheral blood stream, they were harvested. I had to go into a clinic almost daily to get tested as to when it would be the optimum time to harvest the cells.
After the stem cells were harvested and frozen down in a vat of liquid nitrogen, I waited to get my transplant. I had some rest and since it was early December by then, I opted to wait until January to get them back. I have found that the hospital operates on lower staffing over the holidays, and more importantly wanted to spend Christmas with my family before the transplant. That was the year I got a wig as a holiday gift, since I had lost my hair during the stem cell harvesting process!
Our transplant unit was very busy and although I stayed there the first two nights, I then went home and went back and forth for blood testing after the transplant. So I was an 'out patient' although I was not discharged from the hospital until much later, when the transplant was deemed a success. I did need to go back to hospital for an issue related to the transplant for another couple of days later on, also. I think that out of town patients are treated considerately and would stay in the hospital if transportation to home was an issue.
I hope that helps and I had a long session with the bone marrow transplant nursing staff ahead of time outlining the various stages along the way. The nurse navigator also made the appointments for me of all the testing I needed to have done ahead of time.
I am glad to hear that your husband is doing so well and can proceed to the transplant process soon. I live in Calgary and had my transplant done at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Also in Edmonton at the Cross Cancer Centre transplants are done. In Calgary, there is some accommodation for out of town patients and families, but I think you should inquire about this soon. Maybe you could look into having someone look after your children off and on during this process too.
The lead up to the transplant includes a lot of testing, including lung strength, heart tests, the ever present blood tests, and I remember having another bone marrow biopsy too. This was all back in the late autumn of 2009, and I don't know how these procedures may have changed since then.
It is quite a time consuming process, since first the stem cells must be harvested, which takes a long day (or more). I had that done at the apheresis unit at the Foothills Hospital. The lead up to that was quite tiring, since I took cyclophosphamide (the only time I took that) plus a marrow boosting drug that encouraged growth of the stem cells in the marrow. That drug was given by injection. Once the stem cells had increased so much that they burst out into the peripheral blood stream, they were harvested. I had to go into a clinic almost daily to get tested as to when it would be the optimum time to harvest the cells.
After the stem cells were harvested and frozen down in a vat of liquid nitrogen, I waited to get my transplant. I had some rest and since it was early December by then, I opted to wait until January to get them back. I have found that the hospital operates on lower staffing over the holidays, and more importantly wanted to spend Christmas with my family before the transplant. That was the year I got a wig as a holiday gift, since I had lost my hair during the stem cell harvesting process!
Our transplant unit was very busy and although I stayed there the first two nights, I then went home and went back and forth for blood testing after the transplant. So I was an 'out patient' although I was not discharged from the hospital until much later, when the transplant was deemed a success. I did need to go back to hospital for an issue related to the transplant for another couple of days later on, also. I think that out of town patients are treated considerately and would stay in the hospital if transportation to home was an issue.
I hope that helps and I had a long session with the bone marrow transplant nursing staff ahead of time outlining the various stages along the way. The nurse navigator also made the appointments for me of all the testing I needed to have done ahead of time.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
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