March 20, 2014 After meeting with an infectious disease doctor today and Dr. Champlin, it looks like the delay will be at least 2-3 weeks, perhaps longer. They have to treat what ever is going on in my lungs before giving me the heavy chemo and transplanted stem cells. It just wouldn't be safe to proceed at this time. The cultures take several weeks to grow. In the meantime I have been started on two new antibiotics and a new anti-fungal medication. Get this....this new anti-fungal medication costs $7215 per month supply, and a negotiated insurance price of $4674. My co-pay amount is $45..... now that's a BARGAIN! This medicine must be made of gold!!
I did find out today that the donor, a 29 year old international male is confirmed! My new HERO! So that is real good news. They will collect his stem cells ahead of time and then freeze them and have them ready to transplant into me when I am ready. I am learning baby steps will get you there too, maybe not as fast, but sometimes the surest approach!
Friday, March 21, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Delayed Admission and Transplant
We have learned of some set backs over the past two days. First off, we have been notified that my donor has had to back out due to what sounds like a medical issue. The good news is that they have contacted the second donor on the list and they are saying that they can be ready as soon as April 1.
That would place me being admitted on next Tuesday, March 25th...a five day delay. Let's hope and pray all goes well with his physicals etc. and that this gentleman works out! It's a 29 year old European donor with an A+ blood type.
Secondly, my chest X-ray yesterday morning showed a suspicious spot on my lungs that needs to be checked out. So that spurred a CT of the chest and a visit to a Pulmonologist this morning and a bronchoscopy this afternoon. I will have an Infectious Disease consult as well on Thursday. The results from the bronchoscopy are pending. They will send the samples to be analyzed to see what is growing in my lungs. The pulmonologist said he didn't think it looked like pneumonia, but we have to wait and see.
In the meantime, I am feeling fine. We are disappointed in the set backs, but are thankful I'm feeling well and that I have a few more days to prepare for the long recoup period.
March 20, 2014 After meeting with an infectious disease doctor today and Dr. Champlin, it looks like the delay will be at least 2-3 weeks, perhaps longer. They have to treat what ever is growing in my lungs before giving me the heavy chemo and transplanted stem cells. It just wouldn't be safe to proceed at this time. The cultures take several weeks to grow. In the meantime I have been started on two new antibiotics and will start on a new anti-fungal medication. The donor issue is still pending.
That would place me being admitted on next Tuesday, March 25th...a five day delay. Let's hope and pray all goes well with his physicals etc. and that this gentleman works out! It's a 29 year old European donor with an A+ blood type.
Secondly, my chest X-ray yesterday morning showed a suspicious spot on my lungs that needs to be checked out. So that spurred a CT of the chest and a visit to a Pulmonologist this morning and a bronchoscopy this afternoon. I will have an Infectious Disease consult as well on Thursday. The results from the bronchoscopy are pending. They will send the samples to be analyzed to see what is growing in my lungs. The pulmonologist said he didn't think it looked like pneumonia, but we have to wait and see.
In the meantime, I am feeling fine. We are disappointed in the set backs, but are thankful I'm feeling well and that I have a few more days to prepare for the long recoup period.
March 20, 2014 After meeting with an infectious disease doctor today and Dr. Champlin, it looks like the delay will be at least 2-3 weeks, perhaps longer. They have to treat what ever is growing in my lungs before giving me the heavy chemo and transplanted stem cells. It just wouldn't be safe to proceed at this time. The cultures take several weeks to grow. In the meantime I have been started on two new antibiotics and will start on a new anti-fungal medication. The donor issue is still pending.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Dates Set
I am scheduled to be admitted to the hospital on Thursday, March 20th and the cell transfer should happen on March 27th. Things could obviously change....illness on either the donor or my end could postpone things. I have all kinds of tests scheduled for the week before I am admitted and will have a central catheter inserted on the 19th. This is where the drugs and blood products will be administered. Then on the day I am admitted they will start giving me the heavy doses of chemo therapy to wipe out the cancer cells as well as my own good cells. This is to ready my body so it will accept the donors cells and not fight with the transplanted cells as being a foreign invader.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Heads Up ....We're Headed to Stem Cell Transplant!
All that worry for nothing! My blasts finally cooperated and boogied downward all the way to 4%!! My appointment on Thursday with Dr. Garcia-Manero went well and he was clearly ready to send me to Stem Cell transplant at this time.
Next I will meet with the Transplant doctor, Dr. Champlin, on Monday and he will let me know what all I need to do to be ready for the transplant. The transplant coordinator called today to inform me that it usually takes about 4 weeks for the actual transplant to occur. So she will need to contact the donor and give the donor some choices of dates.They don't want to wait too long because that only increases the chances of me coming up with some infection or having the blasts rise again. The timing with the donor cell collection and the transplant (into my body) all has to be coordinated very closely.
The donor has to give his stem cells or bone marrow (his choice) the day before I receive them by infusion into my own body. Oh by the way, did I mention he.....He is my new HERO....a 24 year old male that lives out of the country! They can't tell me the name or contact information for at least two years (one year for donors living in the U.S. and two years for international donors). I also know that his blood type is O-, so after the transplant I will have a new blood type! It is all such a medical miracle!! At the earliest I could be entering the hospital mid March, but we will learn more in the next couple of weeks.
Next I will meet with the Transplant doctor, Dr. Champlin, on Monday and he will let me know what all I need to do to be ready for the transplant. The transplant coordinator called today to inform me that it usually takes about 4 weeks for the actual transplant to occur. So she will need to contact the donor and give the donor some choices of dates.They don't want to wait too long because that only increases the chances of me coming up with some infection or having the blasts rise again. The timing with the donor cell collection and the transplant (into my body) all has to be coordinated very closely.
The donor has to give his stem cells or bone marrow (his choice) the day before I receive them by infusion into my own body. Oh by the way, did I mention he.....He is my new HERO....a 24 year old male that lives out of the country! They can't tell me the name or contact information for at least two years (one year for donors living in the U.S. and two years for international donors). I also know that his blood type is O-, so after the transplant I will have a new blood type! It is all such a medical miracle!! At the earliest I could be entering the hospital mid March, but we will learn more in the next couple of weeks.
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