Home         Forums  

Go Back   Marrowforums > Treatments > Transplants
Register FAQ Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Transplants Bone marrow and stem cell transplantation

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old Sat Apr 3, 2010, 01:48 PM
Jill2008 Jill2008 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 84
Preparative Regimen

I was told that my preparative regimen for my SCT will consist of four consecutive days of total body irradiation followed by two days of high-intensity chemo (Cytoxan), two days of rest and then the stem cells will be infused. Has anyone else had this same regimen? I have been given a list of the side effects, but thought someone out there might be able to tell me more about what to expect.
I picked up my recent CBC and my counts are up just slightly probably due to the fact that I was started on norethindrone (hormone) to stop my menstrual cycle. I have a feeling my doctor will still want to procede with the transplant due to the recent Monosomy 7 finding. He said this is "bad". Monosomy 7 is usually resistant to drug treatments and also puts me at a higher risk of developing AML. I have an appointment in two weeks for the echocardiogram, pulmonary function test and another BMB. I think they are scheduling my SCT sometime in May.
Jill
__________________
Jill, 58 y/o female dx with MDS-U June 2008, IPSS:Int. 2. Allogeneic SCT May 25, 2010. Relapsed January 2011. Started Vidaza (azacitadine) Feb. 2011; Currently on cycle #58 , IV, 5-days every six weeks. WBC 5.3, Hgb 13.0, PLT 110 (2/16/18)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Sat Apr 3, 2010, 06:11 PM
squirrellypoo squirrellypoo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: London, UK
Posts: 458
Hi Jill.

I had a totally different conditioning regime - no TBI and I had three chemo drugs that were olwer intensity so I'm afraid I can't comment much on those. I did take Norethisterone to stop my periods, though, and I took them for about 6 months post-transplant. No side effects from those at all! (You know, look for positives wherever you can!).

Don't get too stressed by all the possible side effects of everything - they're all really scary but they have to tell you everything that MIGHT happen even if the chances are low. Chances are they might not happen either!

May sounds like a long time away but it'll be here before you know it... Do they know who your donor will be? Since I see you're in CA, are you going to City of Hope for your transplant? I think there are quite a few forum members who've been there.

melissa
__________________
36/F - 1984 SAA treated with ATG [complete remission until] Oct 08 - burst blood vessels in eyes and low platelets; Jan 09 - AA & hypo-MDS; July 09 - BMT (RIC MUD PSCT) July 10 - 10k for Anthony Nolan (1yr post BMT! 53:48) Sep 10 - Wedding! I've run 5 marathons now!! (PB 3:30!)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Sat Apr 3, 2010, 11:24 PM
Ruth Cuadra Ruth Cuadra is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 616
Jill,

I had this regimen for my unrelated donor bone marrow transplant at City of Hope in 1998. My TBI was divided up into 10-minute sessions three times a day over 4 days. This was the most difficult part of the whole transplant process for me. Some people mostly breeze through it, but I was sick from the very first session to the end. Nowadays there are more effective anti-nausea drugs that help keep patients comfortable.

After the TBI, I had two days of cytoxan, which I expected to be as dreadful as the TBI, but I had no reactions at all. I had only one day of rest after the cytoxan, but it was enough for me because I wanted to get on with the show. My new bone marrow was infused the following evening. It was an amazing if somewhat anticlimatic experience. The premeds for the infusion put me to sleep but I got to hold the bags of marrow and watch the nurse hook me up.

I've posted a summary of my experience under Member Profiles that you are welcome to read. My physical experience with transplant is not so relevant anymore because improvements in technology and care are helping patients feel better during the process and recover quicker afterwards, but the feelings of confusion and fear are still the same. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Where will your transplant be done?

Regards,
Ruth
__________________
Diagnosed AA 10/96, MDS/RA 6/98, MUD/BMT 10/6/98
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Sun Apr 4, 2010, 11:27 AM
Jill2008 Jill2008 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 84
Squirleypoo and Ruth,
Thanks for your response. I will have my SCT at Stanford. My local hematologist felt this would be the best place to send me after spending 6 months trying to figure out why I had low blood counts. Even though my first cytology report showed four chromosome abormalities he said I had a vitamin B12 deficiency. Months of B12 injections did nothing and a multitude of antibody testing showed negative results. My husband finally demanded an answer and thats what took us to Stanford. The people there are wonderful and I really like my hemotologist and transplant doctor. My treatment is not decided by one doctor alone. It is discussed among the entire BMT team. I feel I will get the best care there and my parents also live within 30 miles so we didn't find a need to search any further.
I read the summary of your experience Ruth. Thank you for taking the time to document your journey. I feel a little more prepared for what lies ahead. I'm sure I will have questions that arise in the months ahead though and I appreciate that you are there to help answer them.
Happy Easter!
Jill
__________________
Jill, 58 y/o female dx with MDS-U June 2008, IPSS:Int. 2. Allogeneic SCT May 25, 2010. Relapsed January 2011. Started Vidaza (azacitadine) Feb. 2011; Currently on cycle #58 , IV, 5-days every six weeks. WBC 5.3, Hgb 13.0, PLT 110 (2/16/18)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old Sun Apr 4, 2010, 10:44 PM
Laura Laura is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 433
Best of luck Jill. Keep us updated.

I had a transplant for AA. I had 1 day of TBI, 4 days of Cytoxan, and 4 days of Campath. I also was doing a clinic trial to see how effective this was against the current stuff. I thought it went pretty well.

Laura
__________________
Laura; dx SAA; MUD transplant June 18, 09; ITP June, 2011; fighting multiple complications/GVHD and now low counts again...
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Remission question... Tominftl MDS 13 Sun Jan 25, 2015 07:53 PM
Transplant center with best outcome against GVHD Relentless Against SAA Transplants 34 Fri Sep 26, 2014 02:09 PM
It's a Roller Coaster Ride - my 3 drug regimen continues knstone MDS 44 Thu Jul 19, 2012 04:47 PM
Recently completed High Dosage Cytoxan regimen at Johns Hopkins. Ask me anything. Technique21 AA 20 Tue Jan 10, 2012 07:37 PM
Question on patients responding to prevously used treatment - Secondary Response knstone MDS 18 Fri Mar 5, 2010 05:35 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Forum sites may contain non-authoritative and unverified information.
Medical decisions should be made in consultation with qualified medical professionals.
Site contents exclusive of member posts Copyright © 2006-2020 Marrowforums.org