Our online cancer treatment forum at CancerCompass.com can help cancer patients obtain additional support, feedback and information about the entire stem cell transplant process. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancer-treatments/conventional-treatments/stem-cell-transplantation/1,0,129,123,91.htm Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I am 25 and was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis at 24. I had surgery in August 2008 to remove a 10 lb spleen and am currently on Hydroxyurea. I am looking to talk to anyone under the age of 35 diagnosed similarly or treated. Apparently it is extremely uncommon to receive this diagnosis under the age of 50. I am also interested to talk to people who have had an unrelated stem cell or bone marrow transplant to find out how it has affected their lives As I am going to have to have one eventually. Thanks,Jenn http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,34663,0.htm Jenncaver Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT The Revlimid seems to be working for me; every month my protein count is just about cut in half.   Has anyone used the Revlimid and found that it took the protein to or near normal range - WITHOUT HAVING to go through a stem cell transplant? I am afraid of the SCT and am hoping that the Revlimid will bring the protein levels close to normal and keep them there so that I can avoid any transplant procedure. Thanks,   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,31616,0.htm Hawaii_Girl Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT My wife is just finishing up her 8th and final cycle of R-HCVAD.She is now being being tested daily to see when her stem-cells can be retrieved.  She needs a count of 6 and yesterday she was at 5.  (not sure what these numbers mean.)Question:  Can someone tell their experiences with the autologus stem cell transplant?  Her regime wil be to receive 2 days of chemo(Cytoxine) then 2 days of total body irradiation (TBI.)   Thank you very much    http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,30705,0.htm RickCindy Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm 37 dx in June with MM and on Revlimid and Velcade hoping to reduce my M-Spike before undergoing a transplant.  My Doc said this could be as soon as January.  Now today I was told that I may be out of work and under "house arrest" for more than 6 months after the treatment!!I'm not sure I can take it. I had a brief stay (my first) in the hospital a few weeks ago because of a drug reaction and almost lost my mind.Can someone tell me what post procedure life is like?  Did people stray from Doc's orders and try to push recovery?  With what consequences?  How soon were people able to return to a "normal" life?Although treatment has great benefits, I'm not sure it outweighs the hardship of being locked away fearing a common cold could send me to the hospital.Thanks for any thoughts.  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,29139,0.htm vajoe Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi everyone; My MD has suggested that I have a SCT. I will be flying out to Seattle from South Carolina for a consultation [because he has the most confidence in the Center out there]. I would appreciate any info that you can share on org's and/or foundations that could help with finacing this because it looks as if, despite insurance it will be very expensive. I would also appreciate any suggestions on how to prepare myself [mentally, physically and spiritually]. Suggestions on what to wear/eat/take w/me would also be helpful. Anythings that I should be sure to watch out far [I've heard a couple of folks who developed blood clots that were nearly fatal]? Oh, I did read that they suggest having fund raiser. Are there any that are more sucessful than others [and take less energy]?I don't have a lot of it and chemo brain is a reality for me. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28784,0.htm sc_Dee Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi my name is Beau, I am posting on behalf of the relative or friend that would do anything for the loved one close to them suffering from cancer. Cancer not only destroys the body but also causes a great deal of mental suffering among both host and the ones close to them. I am speaking from the heart because over the past 4 years I have lost 3 family members and 1 close friend due to various types of cancer. Not only that, but all of my family members, ALL of my family members that have left us behind, have gone due to cancer. So my goal is to provide any information that I can to assist cancer patients or those seeking answers for cancer patients close to them.The reason for my posting is because I have been a part of the medical industry for the past 3 years and through my work affiliations I have established great relationships with many doctors in various fields. The most exciting of the doctors is a group I met in Thailand where successful and Ethical Stem Cell Therapies have been conducted for close to 10 years. The cells that these doctors use are called CBSC's or Cord Blood Stem Cell's from purified umbilical cords. I know that there are many countries participating in these treatments, but truthfully many of them have not been doing treatments, just testing. Also Thailand is home of some of the top hospitals in the world and due to the economic standing of this country which is mostly reliant on tourism, the cost of these treatments are generally much, much, more cost effective. I come from a middle class family and know that unaffordable treatment is not really an option if you can’t actually afford it. CBSC's can be used to treat many types of cancers and degenerative diseases. If you have a question on a specific case please feel free to send me an inquiry and I will gladly provide you with any information that I can. My true intentions are to provide those who have been told that there is no hope or treatment available with a possible solution.  Hope everyone had a good weekend. My email is --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25085,0.htm StemHope Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband had an allogeneic mini-transplant in 11/05.  It was a 10 point, female, unrelated match.  He ended up the first month with GVHD of the skin and gastro.  After putting him on prednisone, he faired well.  His gut GVHD healed and his skin finally got better in about 6 months.  Just before his 1 year check up he got it back again and in December it flared with a vengence.  With all the high doses of prednisone he has gotten Stage 3 kidney disease and asvascular neucrosis in his hips.  He finally got off the prednisone this past July after a long taper and now his gastro GVHD has returned and his skin GVHD has flared.  They want to put him on prednisone again or give him a new shot that has had very little success for GVHD and has many side effects (severe infections, cancer).  He has been hospitalized since November for many pneumonias and is susceptible to infections.  Does anyone have any ideas?  We are desperate.  He has been on every type of immunosuppressant, has done total body irradiaiton, and ECP (photopheresis) treatments.  Help, we are desperate and his depression is getting worse.  It would seem someone out there has been through this and has come through.  Please help. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15816,0.htm Howards_Wife Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT My husband was diagnosed with myelofibrosis this summer.  As the disease seems to be in somehow advanced stage (low hemoglobin, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue) they're talking about bone marrow transplant.  I've read whatever is on the Internet on this topic and some of the statistics are mind boggling:  20% mortality rate at the procedure because of the high dose ablative chemo and radiation and then only approx.  30%-40% survive for three years, because of the Host Versus Graft disease.  There is also the Reduced Intensity Conditioning transplant which they are experimenting that uses lesser and gentler chemo, from what I understand.  It seems to have some success rate.  His oncologist shrugged at this one but I would like to investigate it further.  Did any of you dealing with this disease know someone or experience it?  Did any of you have a transplant (or know someone) using a donor from the donor bank?  We're not sure yet if  one of his two brothers will be a match.  Also, did any of you heard about the so-called autologous transplant, when they use your own stem cells?  My husband just turned 53.  Any responses will be appreciated.Thanks. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15585,0.htm Bookworm Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi,I was wondering if anyone knew of a reason a person would not be a candidate for an autologous stem cell transplant.  My husband is being worked up for one but couldn't do the pulmonary function test today because he was too weak, also had some nodules in his lungs on a previous cat scan.  He has had overwhelming fatigue for the last 3 days and is losing weight. I was wondering if any of these may keep him from being a candidate.Thanks,  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,14737,0.htm yosh003 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT  I have a friend that had a stem cell transplant over 3 weeks ago and is experiencing memory loss and confusion.  She has battled other things as well (GVHD, etc..) but I haven't been able to find any info on the mental issues she is experiencing.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  Thanks. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,12163,0.htm Hokiebird Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT My brother was diagnoised with mantel cell lymphoma in Oct., he is only 45,and I have read it occurs in men over 60.  My brother has just finished 4 rounds of hard chemo and is scheduled to start the stem cell transplant in Charleston, SC, next week.  We got news today that his heart is at 40% and also he has CMV virus from a blood transfusion he had to have a week after his last chemo.  I live in California, my husband is military, just had to let you know why I am not there.  I talked with my mom tonight and she gave me this news, I have not talked with my brother today, but I am so concerned at what this means.  They are saying he can not go through the first chemo that he has to have before the stem cell translplant until his heart is able to take it and the virus is under control.  Does anyone have any info on this.  Thanks for your help. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,9968,0.htm Lucygirl Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT My brother was diagnoised with mantel cell lymphoma in Oct., he is only 45,and I have read it occurs in men over 60.  My brother has just finished 4 rounds of hard chemo and is scheduled to start the stem cell transplant in Charleston, SC, next week.  We got news today that his heart is at 40% and also he has CMV virus from a blood transfusion he had to have a week after his last chemo.  I live in California, my husband is military, just had to let you know why I am not there.  I talked with my mom tonight and she gave me this news, I have not talked with my brother today, but I am so concerned at what this means.  They are saying he can not go through the first chemo that he has to have before the stem cell translplant until his heart is able to take it and the virus is under control.  Does anyone have any info on this.  Thanks for your help. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,9967,0.htm Lucygirl Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi, (Another question from Kera,my mom has MM) My mom had her stem cells harvested & they were only able to collect enough stem cells for one transplant. "God forbid",if she ever needs another transplant,what do they do? Do they try to collect from her again? OR... Do they test family & friends? Kera H Winnipeg,Manitoba http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,6444,0.htm Kera_h Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT My husband went through a auto stem cell transplant 6 months ago. The doctors really encouraged this step as his best shot at getting a remission. It nearly killed him but we thought it would be worth the risk. Now, only 8 months later, he has lost his remission. We don't know if it was worth it or not. I feel we are not getting good information from the doctors. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,2809,0.htm Maryindiana Tue, 23 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT To anyone who has had Bexxar treatments or Stem Cell transplant - any feed back will be helpful. Bexxar is fairly new but I have been hearing some good things about it. Stem Cell transplant scares the heck out of me. I tlaked to a specialist about stem cells and your body goes thru an awful lot for only a 50% chance that your remission could be prolonged. I just wanted to hear what thoughts some one has on either treatments. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,2083,0.htm Bumblebee Mon, 16 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT My wife has chronic graft versus host and is very discouraged. I would like to find out more information, more treatments for this and help her finish this fight. It will be three years on October 25 but she is not feeling like life is worth living like she is. Please help. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,1230,0.htm Spider32 Wed, 14 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT