Hi christophina,
I am almost 6 months post stem cell transplant. Was in remission since induction in may and transplant was August. You will get through this the transplant itself is pretty unremarkable and a bit of an anti climax. Pre chemo can be a bit rough but you will get through it.
Any info you need do not hesitate to ask. There are a lot of very caring and well informed people on this site.
You are now a member of team transplant 2013 .
Prayer and blessings sent to you.
Planxty xx

William -- please stay with us and we will give you all the support that we can. I know it is so very difficult for you, but please don't give up hope. Sometimes things happen that border on the miraculous, and God is active in our lives today, so let's just trust in Him to get you and Tina on through this. At this point try to value every day that you have together just as much as you possibly can. I know that she is going to feel terrible on some days and you just need to be patient and ignore some things. Each day is a gift from God; life is so precious -- we need to value it and not just resent the fact that at some point it time it is going to be taken away ... that is true of all of us. But to feel resentment is to waste the time you now have together. So stay positive and do what you can to make her laugh and make her happy. Above all, don't give up hope. Take care of yourself -- she needs you to do that -- dave

Christophing -- we have many stem cell survivors and some like you who are now going into it. I am chemo only so cannot help too much directly. It might take them a little while to discover you here and you might try a few other threads. Don't be afraid to break in. You can see the other AML threads by clicking on the Acute Myelogenour Leukema button under My Support Groups -- read around a little and you will find several who are stem cell experienced. It is very important that you work together so you can exchange any ways to deal with any GvHD issues that you might be facing. Cliff is a stem cell type, so he will for sure help you, and there are many others as well. Thanks for coming aboard, and we hope you stay -- there are lots of people for you to help here as well -- dave

hi Violet,
yes I am glad to be back at work, just 3 days; unfortunately recession has caught up with my department and my most of my classes are going to disappear by September. I am looking at re-training to teach ESOL (English for Speakers of other languages). I had not expected to have to look for more employment possibilities at the age of 51 and after 2 cancers, but looks like the universe has more plans with me. I hope you'll be able to do a little bit of work soon, too. it makes such a difference participating in life more fully again after such along break.
Wishing you well
Renate

Hi Cliff,

du sprichst so gut Deutsch! I wonder if I have a German donor, too and yes germany is supposed to have the 2nd largest donor numbers after the US.

I think I need to be 2 years post transplant before they start inocculating me. I have had hardly any infections or colds for which I am very grateful. The consultants may reduce my antiviral and antibiotics next week and then I'll have to see what will happen.
Did the vaccines make you feel ill?
All the best
Renate

Christophina,
Welcome to Our team ! I had a bone marrow transplant (fresh stuff) 35 days ago. My sister was a half match. I am an AML, FLT 3 and was in clinical trials to get to remission and have have had international collaboration in my transplant plan. I visualize nothing but success. Currently in the throws of total exhaustion from the transplant, I am home and believe things can always be worse, so I am thankful for for every day and every moment I feel good.
Some of this has been quite a trip for lack of better phrasing. I never saw myself here, but I cannot imagine my life without those on this group providing daily strength and support. We each have varying degrees of symptomatology, but someone has experienced something and we can tell you what we think and what to expect in some cases. Obviously, everyone is different.
I am an eternal hopeful and look at myself every day and announce out loud, "today, you are a survivor". One minute, one moment at a time and love fully .

Ask away and welcome.
Peace, love and hope always,
Andrea

Danke, Renate.

Ich habe Deutsch in der Hochschule studiert, und habe nur alles vergessen. Dennoch, ich liebe es zu versuchen. Ich bin viel besser in Franzsisch.

Like you, I have had no significant illnesses since my transplant, even though my CD4+ count is less than 200 still. I feel quite well.

I had absolutely no side effects from my inoculations. I hope that I am developing antibody. I am scheduled to get more in mid-March and also in mid-May. I hope by then my CD4+ and CD8+ cells will be reconstituted.

Ich bin froh zu hren, da Sie wieder bei der Arbeit. Ich bin eiferschtig, aber nicht arbeiten knnen, bis meine Immunitt ist ausreichend.

The only medicines related to my transplant that I take are Mepron (PCP and Toxoplamosis prophylaxis) and Acyclovir. As soon as my CD4+ numbers come up, I imagine they will be stopped. I cannot wait.

Take care of yourself.

Cliff

William,

I have found that since coming down with AML and going through the treatments, I have become far more emotional that I used to be. Your words bring me to tears. I just wanted to say that, because it makes me feel better, even though my confession may not bring much solace to you. I could repeat scenarios that happened to patients of mine who had wide-spread malignancies, had given up all hope (as had their doctors) and yet tried a last ditch (often experimental) treatment that saved their lives. I have known women who had metastatic breast cancer and received BMT with complete recovery.

As Dave mentioned, I am a physician. I have tried to answer medical questions for others on this site to the best of my ability. Although AML should not define any of us or our loved ones, I feel that having survived the chemotherapy, radiation and and transplant was a gift from God, and that my empathy for others with similar plights is because I am a patient now, even more than I am a doctor. It pains me terribly to hear about anyone who is not doing as well as I, or anyone who is young and much loved. There are so many people on this website that I feel that I would die for. They are far better human beings than I am or will ever be and are far younger than I (I am now 60). My regret is that I didn't find this wonderful group until after I had gone through all of my treatments. I have never in my life experienced the love, warmth, caring, and spirit of this group. We will not let you down, William. Not for a second. Continue to let us in, but feel free to push us out when you feel you need to (which I hope is never). We are never more than a keyboard stroke away.

God Bless you and your wife. I am praying for both of you,

Cliff

Just to let everyhone know that William has started a new thread called "Therapy Related AML" His first post on it was a very comprehensive review as well as an extremely moving paragraph that brought me to tears. I am not as emotional as Cliff, so that is saying something. Anyway, please go on over and read what he put on there -- you will not regret it. -- dave

Dave, my AML is also believe to have been induced by my previous chemo or radiation for breast cancer. Mine is t:(9,11), although unlike William's wife my breast cancer is not active. My bone marrow was also tired and it took 6 weeks to get my white cells back after chemo when I relapsed in 2011, making a BMT the only option.

My prayers are with William and his wife.

Nicole x

Christophina

So lucky for your brother to be a match, we have had to endure waiting with some of the members here for news of a match. I have two brothers and they were so disappointed to not be a good match, fortunately there was a good unrelated donor match for me.

My transplant was in Sept 2011. It was quite uneventful and I was home with good blood counts 3 weeks after.

My best wishes to you next week.

Nicole x

Ditto Christophina.

Like Nicole, my siblings were not matches and felt very badly about that, but I actually had 4 10/10 non-related donors and was ecstatic when the one that they wanted (from Germany) came through. I am looking forward to finding out who he is, when I celebrate my second birthday (Sept. 8, 2013). I owe everything to his generosity.

Don't sweat the transplant. It will bring you closer to your brother and you will get well thanks to him and your own grit.

Cliff

Just wanted to get this thread out and dust it off -- it servered several in the past who were new getting on and did not know where to start. If you are new you might want to jump on here -- this thread is being watched by experienced AMLers who want to help victims and care givers who are just getting into treatment. We have been there and know how you feel, and we want to get you throuth it. Just post a message here and we will help you. -- dave

I am new to this group. My husband David (age 67) was diagnosed with AML on March 6 after a routine blood test. We both feel as though we have been run over by a truck. One day were happily working and enjoying life, the next day our lives as we once knew them, are changed forever. We were told that he is high risk for relapse and that he will need a transplant. His sister is deceased so we need a donor. He began his induction yesterday. I have never experienced these emotions. We are both very, very scared. I have read many of your posts and they have been both inspiring and frightening. I look forward to sharing positive experiences with all of you.
Myra

Welcome Myra,

You have every right to be scared I know I am and I am 7 months post transplant today.
This disease happens so fast and treatment is given so quick you have very little time to process all the information given. I was diagnosed in may 12 also in a blood test, my only complaint at that time was a sore throat. Within 4 hours of the blood test I had been transferred to hospital 200 kilometres from home.

I will pray for a perfect match for David, they're many on this site who have had transplants from unmatched donors and will be willing to help you with your fears and anxieties.

My prayers are with you and David

Planxty xxxxx