Stem Cell consultation. . . .

Thursday April 2, 2015 we visited Stanford University Cancer Center for my consultation with my doctor there.  What a plethora of over whelming information. Dr Miklos was amazing and gave us the chemistry lesson of our lives. the short of it. First phase, I go once a week for the first 2-3 weeks for a combination chemo and stem cell boosting session. I leave still hooked to an IV, spend the night at a near by hotel and return the next day to complete and released to go home. After they have been able to harvest enough stem cells, I will then return for the most intense portion of my treatment. Stem cells have been harvested and then the insane chemo begins. I will be given 50x the normal dosages of three chemotherapy drugs over 7-14 days, depending on how I respond. After all of my bone borrow has been completely killed, wiped out, I will then be given my stems cells back and they begin to reproduce my blood and immune system. You may be wondering how will I have enough blood circulating if they have killed all of my bone marrow? The white cells, red blood cells and platelets. Well, your red blood cells live for 100 days, your white blood cells live for 3-4 days and your platelets live 120 days. There may be a time that I need a blood transfusion during this period, but that is normal.

Before all of the above is to happen I will have another bone marrow biopsy preformed, a cardo test on my heart and a pulmonary test for my lungs. In addition, I need my current port replaced with a Hickman port line. The port I have is too small to ensure my blood can pass back and forth without damage. Just another small surgical procedure to add to my list of many.

At the point of stem cell transplant I will have already been in the hospital for at least 7 days. After transplant I will remain for another 14-21 days depending on how I respond to my new clean cells. Dr Miklos guaranteed I would be in extreme discomfort from mouth sores, fatigue, body aches and pains, vomiting, etc etc. They will make me very comfortable with a combination of drugs.

I was happy to hear that part of my team includes a physical therapist. I can have a bike or treadmill placed in my room for daily exercise, which they stress is a necessity during all of this process. Exercise has been my one escape during the past 18mths and what a relief I get to continue while under going a terrible treatment. Give me some time to just zone.

So that is the short story of it all. You know I will update with my real life experience as it happens. Right now I feel great. Have spent the last few days getting my daughter and grand-son into their first real apartment. That has used up lots of energy, but I haven't crashed like I thought I might. I am still enjoying a glass of wine almost every night. All alcohol has to be stopped just before I begin treatment and until at least 30days after I am able to return home. Living in the beautiful wine country in Lodi and not being able to enjoy it makes me sad. But I slap myself and remember this is all worth it. Spending two years of your life fighting for that said life is really a short time compared to what I have left to experience. Cheers to the rest of my very long life!!!