Stem Cell Transplant, Day-6 and Counting

I've had a pretty easy day so far today. and even walked 3/4 mile on the treadmill this morning. Tomorrow, I'll start Buslufan another chemo drug that has a little harsher side effects. So keep me in your prayers.

Stem Cell Transplant, Day - 7 and counting...

Today I felt well enough to walk 3/4 of a mile after breakfast on the treadmill in the solarium, which has a great view (it is on the 11th floor of the hospital). I ate all my meals for the most part. Jim and I watched the first few episodes of the TV series "Lost" this evening from DVD set that our pastor loaned us to pass the time in the hospital. Besides being confined to the hospital, I feel very well.

Stem Cell Transplant, Day-8 and Counting...

Jim and I got up to the hospital in Denver this morning and got settled in the hospital. Then I had the obligatory lab work and chest x-ray followed by a lumbar puncture. (With a conservative estimate, Jim says that I've had 15 lumbar punctures since my treatment began in January.) I got a look at the needle today (I asked to see it). It was 6 inches long!!

I started one of my chemo drugs today, Thiotepa, which is given through a central line in my chest over 1 hour. I'll get the same drug at the same rate for 2 more days. So far, so good.

Thanks for all your prayers on my behalf.

Fear and Trembling

I will be admitted to the hospital for 3-4 week stay for a stem cell transplant on Monday. There I'll have three different types of chemotherapy over 8 days, then a day of rest and then my transplant on August 18. The chemo is harsher than any that I have received so far, so the side effects are expected to be equally as harsh.

For stem cell transplants, there is a descending count down...chemo starts on day 8 and runs through day 0 which will be transplant day (and essentially a new birthday and lease on life). Transplant day is actually day is fairly anticlimactic. Basically, it's like a blood transfusion. Then, the hope is that the stem cells will engraft in my bone marrow within 10-14 days and begin cranking out new cells.

I've been waking up several nights every night since last Monday. I've been very anxious, which I suppose is expected, but I feel that fear even during the day now. I would appreciate your fervent prayers on my behalf.

Vacation Plans Hijacked

We were scheduled to go on vacation to Monterey and northern California to see some of our kids and our grandkids a few weeks ago, but the fever and hospitalization I mentioned in my previous post halted those plans. We rescheduled and will leave tomorrow for a less ambitious trip (4 days instead of 9) so I can get back to complete apheresis (stem cell collection) and start the transplant. My doctor is anxious to get the transplant started as soon as possible.

Catch Those Stem Cells!

The apheresis technician has been able to collect about half of the stem cells that I need for a transplant using an apheresis machine which basically withdraws my blood through a central line in my chest, puts the blood through a centrifuge, and collects stem cells. The remaining blood minus stem cells is returned to me. Two of the days that I was scheduled to have collection (apheresis) of my stem cells my lab results were not high enough to collect. Another day I had a fever and had to go back to the hospital (and stayed for 5 days).

Here is a great article about the transplant process from the National Cancer Institute - www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/therapy/bone-marrow-transplant and the lyphomainfo webpage - www.lyphomainfo.net/therapy/transplants/bmt.html

Stem Cell Transplant

I know that it has been almost three weeks since I have written, but I wanted to wait until I had some news about having a stem cell transplant before I wrote again. I've just finished 10 cycles of chemotherapy, and the doctors consider me a good candidate for a stem cell transplant. My chances for a cure with the transplant are 50-50. With chemo alone, my chances are very limited.

The transplant and isolation period afterward will be about 2-3 months long (I can have visitors during that time; I just have to stay in the hospital for the first month and in an apartment within 30 minutes of the hospital for about 2 months.) We'll be able to visit some of our children and grandchildren in California before the transplant though, which I am so thankful for.

P.S. For those of you who are interested, I'm having an autologous transplant--the doctors are using my own stem cells (they will collect the stem cells next week and freeze them until they are needed. After my entire immune system is wiped out with very strong chemo the frozen stem cells will be given back to me.)

Keep me in your prayers.