This week's poll is about how your stem cell transplant procedure was done: as an inpatient or outpatient procedure.
As usual, there are a few clarifications.
First, this question is for any Beacon reader who has had one or more stem cell transplants. You're welcome to answer this poll regardless of whether it was an autologous (using your own stem cells) or an allogeneic (using stem cells from a donor) transplant.
Second, if you are a caregiver or family member of someone who has myeloma and underwent a stem cell transplant, feel free to answer on their behalf.
As always, feel free to post comments, thoughts, or feedback in the space below. They can be very useful to other readers. In particular, what were the advantages or disadvantages of the type of procedure you had? If you were to do another stem cell transplant, would you do it the same way or would you find a center that would let you do it the other way?
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8 posts
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Re: Weekly Poll - Inpatient Vs Outpatient Transplant
Had 2 transplants with my cells.July 2010 December 2010
July 8 hours in hospital stayed in apartment with my wife run by Hackensack Medical Center
December transplant stayed in hospital whole time
Stay in hospital was smart move had some issues which were well taken care of.
Today 5/23/13 my body is clean no treatments Pet Scan every 6 months.
Very active physically, thank you DR. Vesole and staff at John Thuer Cancer Center in Hackensack!! I am Non Secretory Myeloma Guy
July 8 hours in hospital stayed in apartment with my wife run by Hackensack Medical Center
December transplant stayed in hospital whole time
Stay in hospital was smart move had some issues which were well taken care of.
Today 5/23/13 my body is clean no treatments Pet Scan every 6 months.
Very active physically, thank you DR. Vesole and staff at John Thuer Cancer Center in Hackensack!! I am Non Secretory Myeloma Guy
Re: Weekly Poll - Inpatient Vs Outpatient Transplant
I've had one transplant, autologous, was inpatient for 16 days. I can't see how this could ever be done as an outpatient procedure. I was getting constant attention, labs drawn every morning, several days of high risk infection where I couldn't leave my room without a mask. Although I'm very close to the clinic, I don't think I would have had enough strength to get out of bed and into the car on some days. Plus living with 3 small dogs who would want to be on my lap constantly, although I missed them dearly while I was hospitalized. Kudos to those of you who have done outpatient!
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rosecitylady - Name: rosecitylady
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Weekly Poll - Inpatient Vs Outpatient Transplant
Mine was inpatient and I would caution those who are focused on the benefit of being home to consider the role of your caregiver and what is being asked of them. It is a tremendous responsibility as is travelling back and forth to the hospital.
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Patrick Beal
Re: Weekly Poll - Inpatient Vs Outpatient Transplant
I had both an Auto and an Allo from my brother and never spent a night in the hospital. At first we went to the hospital every day, a one mile walk from our temporary apartment. Then the hospital had deliverys of IV and supplys to the apartment. We had a pump unit and it was easy to plug in and take the IV each day. I feel I had less exposure spending all the days at the apartment. To this approach I think I can credit having no complications. I did not miss sleeping over and having hospital food. This was in 2006 and in March 2011 I had a Mini-Allo series for research and have been off treatment ever since. Looking forward to my 69th birthday in July !
Hugh
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turbineman - Name: Hugh
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2006
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Weekly Poll - Inpatient Vs Outpatient Transplant
My stem cell was in 2011 Auto , I am on no meds, and get blood work every 6 months. I have not had a PET or a Bone Biopsy for almost 2 years now.
Re: Weekly Poll - Inpatient Vs Outpatient Transplant
Reading Patrick's post made me recall how many people helped me out with transportation during my stem cell transplant. My husband, my daughters and my retired parents all pitched in to help. I was in no shape to drive myself, and actually didn't like driving when I had a central venous line. If I had not had family to help drive, friends did offer, and also there is a 'volunteer driver' program at our cancer centre.
So that was a problem with being mostly an 'outpatient', but I was grateful to be able to be home during my recuperation period!
So that was a problem with being mostly an 'outpatient', but I was grateful to be able to be home during my recuperation period!
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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
Re: Weekly Poll - Inpatient Vs Outpatient Transplant
I've had an auto as an inpatient and an allo as an outpatient. The auto conditioning was myeloablative and due to all of the complications with it I would have ended up in hospital even if I had started out as an outpatient. My mini allo was non- myeloablative (and a breeze) but I needed to be "relatively" close to the hospital (my home ~ 120 km away was considered too far). I stayed with a sister-in-law who lives ~10 mins from the hospital. For the first ~ 2 weeks I had to go in Mon-Fri, then it was 3 days/week and then 2 days. I drove myself in to the hospital after the first week. After ~5 weeks I went home (missed my hubby, my children and the cats too much) and was only "allowed" to if my local GP and local oncologist knew I was home. I still had to go to the hospital in Melbourne twice/week but I didn't mind the drive. Nothing like home to make you feel better.
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
8 posts
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