I have read the criteria for doing "reduced intensity conditioning" vs "high dose chemo" more had to do with initial health of patient, age, and prior treatments. For example, a second transplant is more likely to be RIC, I think. I was not even offered the option of RIC, since I was younger and otherwise healthy, and I never had any radiation. After having gone through the high dose treatment, I can say it was uncomfortable but not overwhelming and even if I was 10 or 15 years older, I still think I could go through it again if I had too. Now this was my reaction, everybody is different of course. I was in similar situation as Lori as I had a perfect sibling match and right now going into day 80+ I have not had any GVHD or adverse side effects
Lori, you may benefit from a second opinion at another institution as someone else stated but sometimes having too much information makes decisions even harder
