Multiple Myeloma Support Group

hello tom,i also had a autologus stem cell transplant in 2005...i done very well with it i was in remission for 3 years.i just relasped this year and is but on velcade and dex,i am into cycle 3 and doing fine.The bone marrow transplant was the best thing i decide to do,for 3 years i felt great,it is not the easiest but it is also not the hardest thing i indure in life.just have hope,and strengh and prayer it will guide you threw.If you have any question i will try my best to help you with them,take care,my prayer and thoughts are with you

Well, I have a skilled physician who planted the seed that I may want to consider a transplant and over the past couple of weeks I have wrapped my mind around it and begun preperations to allow me to focus fully on healing.
So far with my chemo regimen I have done a fair job of listening to my body and adjusting to both maximize a good outcome and minimize discomfort.
I guess if I can be sick and weak for an hour then I can be sick and weak for a couple weeks while the process runs it's course.
Mostly I am sure going to miss spring gardening until I get OK to get dirty.

Blessings,
Tom

Tom-

Before undergoing a pbsct please read the following-

http://beating-myeloma.org/article...

http://beating-myeloma.org/article...

http://beating-myeloma.org/article...

A pbsct is aggressive therapy with potential side effects for you, long/short term and your caregivers.

There are mm specialists who are beginning to question the benefit of pbsct for all mmers depending on your age, prognosis, etc.

Get a second opinion from Dr. Brian Durie from the IMF- he is a terrific mm specialist and does phone consults- get his phone number below.

http://beating-myeloma.org/search/...

If any of the links don't work, copy and paste the urls into the search box in the upper left corner of the
http://beating-myeloma.org/
pages.

David Emerson

I was diagnosed with mm in May/07 and had a stem cell transplant in Aug/07. It wasn't easy at the time..I found fatigue the worst..You have to be careful because your immuine system is 0. I had no complications and feel great. I feel like normal..my energy level is back to normal. I would advise anyone to do it.Depend on God for strength..He can take you through it. I'm here for you..I'll do my best to answer any questions you have..Susz

I had an autologus stem cell transplant in Janaury 2009. I was in the hospital for two weeks and two days. The transplant went very good for me. I received high-dose chemo the first day and received my stem cells the next day. The only side effects was some mild nasuea. I did not experience any severe fatigue and I went back to work on February 12th with my doctor's approval. My oncolist says my outlook is very good, so I need to stay in remission for a long, long time. I had a good response to Thlidamide and dexamethasone. I was in remission at the time I entered the hopital for the transplant. I am 55 years old.

We are now getting ready for the sixth course of velcade/decadron. So far the results are nearly a complete response with the blood tests showing levals in the range that the MGUS that began all of this.
The more research I do and the more I hear from you folks the less anxious I have become.
Sitting on my hands until it's safe to garden is probably going to be tougher than any side effects.

Tom

Well I have my initial appointment with the folks at Yale oncology this coming Thursday.
I have begun to shut down my workshop (I have a sharpening service) in order to put my full attention on job one- health!

I believe I can do this, if the procedure does not involve decadron I may even enjoy it!

I had my 2nd bone marror biopsy last week and my doctor told me I had no myeloma cells anymore. Doesn't that mean I am in remission? He wants me to get a stem cell transplant, says it will add a year to my life. I have heard otherwise and wonder if I should say no to the transplant?

Yesterday I had my initial consultation with Dr Cooper and his team at Yale.
I have had great response to velcade/dex with my myeloma proteins now undetectable and my immunoglobbulins in the normal range.
Dr. Cooper explained that the stem cell transplant was not the only option available to me and that because I had such great response to velcade/dex it would be possible to use it at a maintainance dose once a week for four weeks on and two weeks off. The downside here is that over time the myeloma is likely to stop responding to the velcade/dex therapy. Another option is to do the stem cell transplant which leaves velcade/dex for future use.
I have chosen to do the stem cell transplant and will keep everyone updated as things proceed.

Hi there Bamb00, just like another reply on here from susz, i was diagnosed in may '07 and had high dose chemo and stem cell transplant in the October '07, and i can tell you this, i feel fine, its not the nicest treatment, but the outcome far outways it, trust me. Try getting in touch with roob on this site, i did and every check up i get told that there is apsalutely no sign of it at all.
Good luck mate, we will all be waiting for you after treatment

Tony