How long was the time between the end of your induction therapy and your stem cell transplant?
I know that there are screens and prep and then the harvest of the cells themselves, but how long did that take and how soon was the process started after the last induction treatment?
Forums
-
dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
Good morning Cathy,
My husband ended his induction the second week of February 2015 and had his stem cell transplant April 30. I was really worried that he was off treatment for so long, but since his doctor didn't seem at all concerned I trusted that he was right - and of course he was. In fact, my husband's levels continued to drop between the end of induction and the transplant even while off treatment.
Best of luck to you and your husband!
Debra
My husband ended his induction the second week of February 2015 and had his stem cell transplant April 30. I was really worried that he was off treatment for so long, but since his doctor didn't seem at all concerned I trusted that he was right - and of course he was. In fact, my husband's levels continued to drop between the end of induction and the transplant even while off treatment.
Best of luck to you and your husband!
Debra
-
reece93 - Name: reece93
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
Hi Dogmom,
My last CyBorD (cyclophosphamide, Velcade, dexamethasone) treatment was on March 1, 2016, and I will receive my high-dose melphalan on April 13, 2016 with re-infusion of my stem cells on April 14, 2016.
There was, however, a lot of transplant prep activity between March 1 and March 31, which included insertion of a double lumen apheresis catheter (this first prep step took place on March 16), an all-day infusion of cyclophosphamide (to mobilize stem cells) , 8 days of GCSF injections (also to mobilize stem cells) and the stem cell retrieval (this last prep step took place March 31). I was lucky in that I only needed one day (about 5 hours) for the stem cell retrieval process – they managed to retrieve 9.5 million stem cells (enough for 2 transplants).
Good luck!
Karen
My last CyBorD (cyclophosphamide, Velcade, dexamethasone) treatment was on March 1, 2016, and I will receive my high-dose melphalan on April 13, 2016 with re-infusion of my stem cells on April 14, 2016.
There was, however, a lot of transplant prep activity between March 1 and March 31, which included insertion of a double lumen apheresis catheter (this first prep step took place on March 16), an all-day infusion of cyclophosphamide (to mobilize stem cells) , 8 days of GCSF injections (also to mobilize stem cells) and the stem cell retrieval (this last prep step took place March 31). I was lucky in that I only needed one day (about 5 hours) for the stem cell retrieval process – they managed to retrieve 9.5 million stem cells (enough for 2 transplants).
Good luck!
Karen
-
KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
I had all of my pre-transplant testing done while I was still doing my induction regimen, the last month of it. As soon as I completed my last prescriptions of my regimen, I started the process for harvesting my stem cells and went to transplant a week after completion of harvesting. This was a month from beginning to end. So, I was without Revlimid and dex for 4 weeks. During that time I had the Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) infusion for the harvesting.
Nancy in Phila
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
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
Hi folks,
End of induction for me was April 3, 2013. Stem cell transplant was May 15, 2013. The window between those two events was 1 week longer than my oncologist ideally wanted, to allow me to run with my daughter in her first 10K.
Best wishes,
Mike
End of induction for me was April 3, 2013. Stem cell transplant was May 15, 2013. The window between those two events was 1 week longer than my oncologist ideally wanted, to allow me to run with my daughter in her first 10K.
Best wishes,
Mike
-
mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
Hi All,
I don't think that this question was asked before on the Beacon forum so it is interesting to compare and contrast.
Induction (4 cycles of Velcade plus dex, i.e. 16 treatments) finished on November 12, 2009. Then had the tests for transplant – EKG, chest X-ray, jaw x-rays (comprehensive dental checkup at the cancer centre), lung function tests, echocardiogram, blood work, skeletal survey, as well as a bone marrow biopsy. My stem cell harvest was on December 14. The stem cell transplant process started on January 10, 2010.
So between the end of the induction chemo and the transplant was about two months. There was a break in there for the holidays – for the medical staff, and for me and my family too.
I don't think that this question was asked before on the Beacon forum so it is interesting to compare and contrast.
Induction (4 cycles of Velcade plus dex, i.e. 16 treatments) finished on November 12, 2009. Then had the tests for transplant – EKG, chest X-ray, jaw x-rays (comprehensive dental checkup at the cancer centre), lung function tests, echocardiogram, blood work, skeletal survey, as well as a bone marrow biopsy. My stem cell harvest was on December 14. The stem cell transplant process started on January 10, 2010.
So between the end of the induction chemo and the transplant was about two months. There was a break in there for the holidays – for the medical staff, and for me and my family too.
Last edited by Nancy Shamanna on Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
Thanks so much for all the replies. I spoke with our transplant coordinator, and he is supposed to get us a schedule of planned tests, classes, etc, with projected transplant date if all goes to plan with pre testing. This will give us a ballpark date for transplant. Since we will have to stay close to the hospital for 3 weeks after discharge, we need to get some things taken care of to be gone away from home that long. Keep the replies coming. 
-
dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
The end of my induction was December 30, 2014. I did 4 rounds of Velcade, dex, and Revlimid. Had the month of January as a drug free "rest" for letting the body recover a bit.
Reported to Mayo on February 3, 2015 to begin the process of testing, scans, bone marrow biopsy, etc. Had 4 days of Neupogen shots to boost stem cell production and had my surgery for insertion of my IV catheter. I harvested stem cells for 2 days (about 5 hours each day).
I received the high-dose melphalan on February 17 and my stem cells back to me on February 19.
So from end of induction to my actual transplant day was about 6 weeks, but many things occurred in the two weeks prior to getting those stem cells returned to me. At my 100 day Mayo checkup, I was still achieving "stringent complete response". I have been on Velcade maintenance (every 2 weeks) since my 100 day check-up.
Please keep us informed of how the process goes for you. Best of wishes being sent to you.
Reported to Mayo on February 3, 2015 to begin the process of testing, scans, bone marrow biopsy, etc. Had 4 days of Neupogen shots to boost stem cell production and had my surgery for insertion of my IV catheter. I harvested stem cells for 2 days (about 5 hours each day).
I received the high-dose melphalan on February 17 and my stem cells back to me on February 19.
So from end of induction to my actual transplant day was about 6 weeks, but many things occurred in the two weeks prior to getting those stem cells returned to me. At my 100 day Mayo checkup, I was still achieving "stringent complete response". I have been on Velcade maintenance (every 2 weeks) since my 100 day check-up.
Please keep us informed of how the process goes for you. Best of wishes being sent to you.
-
CabinGirl - Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept. 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
We received my husband's transplant schedule yesterday. Looks like it will be on for the first of June. He gets his last CyBorD the 28th of this month and will have all his pretests and central line placement in May.
He is so ready to get it done, but he is worried about what he will have to go through and feeling worse as he has been feeling so much better with his treatments. Keep good thoughts for us that all his pretests are good and we are not delayed.
His myeloma specialist expects his bone marrow to be clean and ready for the transplant as his symptoms, labs, etc. are so good. Normal SPEP and normal kappa lambda ratio, kidney functions, etc. He said if his bone marrow plasma cell percentage was 20 or over they might consider another round of treatments, but since his clinical status was so good, maybe not. He would evaluate if it is and decide then.
He is so ready to get it done, but he is worried about what he will have to go through and feeling worse as he has been feeling so much better with his treatments. Keep good thoughts for us that all his pretests are good and we are not delayed.
His myeloma specialist expects his bone marrow to be clean and ready for the transplant as his symptoms, labs, etc. are so good. Normal SPEP and normal kappa lambda ratio, kidney functions, etc. He said if his bone marrow plasma cell percentage was 20 or over they might consider another round of treatments, but since his clinical status was so good, maybe not. He would evaluate if it is and decide then.
-
dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Time from end of induction to stem cell transplant?
Hello Dogmom:
One thing I wanted to add, that I have posted on before, but not for a while. Studies show it is actually better to be somewhat above your so called "ideal weight" going into transplant. In fact, the studies show that those patients actually do better. 90% of patients lose weight during the procedure, and in some cases, where GI side effects are harsh, the weight loss is 30+ pounds. So the moral of the story is that your husband should not be afraid at all to "eat well" during the runup to the ASCT. I would say definitely do not include the bad actors (greasy food, processed and fast food), but it is OK to eat good healthy portions of meat, fish, vegetables, dairy, etc, good fresh high quality food. Good luck.
One thing I wanted to add, that I have posted on before, but not for a while. Studies show it is actually better to be somewhat above your so called "ideal weight" going into transplant. In fact, the studies show that those patients actually do better. 90% of patients lose weight during the procedure, and in some cases, where GI side effects are harsh, the weight loss is 30+ pounds. So the moral of the story is that your husband should not be afraid at all to "eat well" during the runup to the ASCT. I would say definitely do not include the bad actors (greasy food, processed and fast food), but it is OK to eat good healthy portions of meat, fish, vegetables, dairy, etc, good fresh high quality food. Good luck.
-
JPC - Name: JPC
11 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Return to Treatments & Side Effects