Mom Needs Stem Cell Transplant-need All Info

My Mom has MM and was diagnosed in January. It is probably about Stage 2. It is not aggressive at this point. We went to Rochester and they want to start her on Velcade and do a stem cell whether she has a response or not to the Velcade. She was on Revlimid and thalidomide with no response. She has 30% plasma and that hasn't changed since June 1st. She is really struggling with putting herself through SCT and all the major chemo that goes with it because she feels so good now. She golfs and mows the yard and plays with her grandchildren without a problem besides some backpain. Has anyone out there gone through SCT or close to someone who has? What was your experience? The doctor said most of the process is outpatient now!! I guess I kind of feel like the doctors do right now and think if this is the best chance for survival we should do it. Does anyone have input? Jodi

Curcumin (from turmeric) has effects against MM. The following is a technical abstract but it makes the point: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12393461&itool=pubmed_docsum If you research curcumin you will find a multitude of studies on its anticancer use: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12680238&dopt=Abstract EGCG from green tea should also definitely be considered. It has also been shown to inhibit Multiple Myeloma: http://www.bloodjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/blood-2006-05-022814v1 I believe if you do some research you'll soon see that these supplements can help. Best wishes.

My mom is taking supplements, but only after etensive research and speaking with a dietician (you can ask your mom's doc, they usually have on in the oncology dept.) They need to make sure that they will not interfere with any of the meds she is taking. My mom was taking EGCG (green tea) and stopped during radiation and when she started a new form of chemo. The research I found showed that certain chemo are ok with EGCG and others are not. Just make sure you do all research prior to giving supplements.

What age is your mother? Is she going to receive her own cells or a donor's cells? I am 48 years old and I received my own cells. It was my second time to have Lymphoma, the aggressive diffuse B-cell type. They told me choosing to have the SCT was choosing life. After much research and asking he doctor questions I decided to go ahead with the SCT. It was a rough road but worth it. I felt great before I had the transplant also, but with the aggressively growing malignant cells in my body it would have caught up with me. If she decides to have the SCT, the sooner the better, before it is a stage 3 or 4. I had total body irridiation followed by two types of chemotherapy. Nausea,vomiting and diarrhea occurred multiple times a day. I lost 20 pounds in 28 days. They kept me very well medicated and I don't remember much at all about the hospital stay. I would not want to have this done on an outpatient basis. I know they do it, but not me! The white blood cells drop very low making the patient susceptible to infection. The red cells drop causing fatigue. The platelets drop and bleeding could occur. The important factors to consider are: Age hopefully <65, stage of the cancer (the lower the better), how active she is and it is good that she is very active, and whether the chemotherapy prior to the transplant puts the cancer into remission. I will stop now, but write back if you have other questions or if you want to know more about the procedure itself. God Bless your family as you make this decision. I know that she will eventually have to be the decision maker and you will honor that.

Hi, My name is Valerie. My husband was diagnosed with MM(stage 3) last June, he was almost 43yrs. old. He tried the same drugs your Mom did, the best restults he got were from Velcade, then they did the SCT in Feb this year, it put him into remission. However, his Dr. at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, considers a tandem transplant (which is another SCT within 3 mos. of the first) to be more effective at keeping the disease in remission for a much greater length of time or even, "complete remission". So, in June, he had the 2nd transplant. The first one went great, he was discharged from the hospital after 3 weeks( of course, he had the usual stomach upsets, but compared to others, it was minimal) the second one was harder (he had rare allergic reactions to the chemo) he had a six week stay this time. He is recovering nicely at home, his counts are going up, and we believe he has achieved "complete remission" which was the reason for the tandem. Because his MM was very aggressive, 85% involvement, he really didn't have a choice, however, we would do it all over again. My advice to you, don't worry, your Mom's at a good place to have the SCT, it is harder when the cancer is further along and aggressive. She will do just fine, and will be glad she did it; as long as she has a good Dr. and belief and faith in God. Good luck to you both--from someone who has been there! Just Believe!

Dear Brenda, My mom is 59 years old. She is in good health besides this horrible cancer. They estimate her cancer in stage 2. They also say they are learning so much about MM that it is a little hard to stage it and they use a new staging system. She has no kidney problems, a good heart and young for sct. She hasn't had any response to treatment yet but the oncologist said that she would suggest an autologous sct whether or not she has had a response. She is very scared to get a transplant. But the doctors say it is the best chance for survival. How long ago did you get your sct Thanks for your input. Keep in touch. Jodi

Valerie, These are stories I need to hear. I know it will be rough, but that it will be well worth the sickness that sct puts you through. When you say complete remission what do you mean? That his plasma is below 10%, or there is NO cancer in his body(bone marrow)? That is wonderful. We will continue to "believe" as we go through this. Our faith is what keeps us strong enough to fight this battle. Jodi

Jodi, I just had my autologous sct on 05/18/06. So, that was 3 months ago and I feel much better. I am glad to hear that it is an "autologous" sct she is considering. It is much more tolerable than if she would have to get someone elses stem cells. Then there is the possibility and even a probability that those patients get graft verses host disease. Remember that God says he will never leave us nor forsake us. This has held true throughout my cancer treatments. God Bless you and Your Mom. Brenda

hi strand my father has mm since may 2005 he undergo 6 cycles of vad chemotherapy than disease was in remission for three months than again disease relapsed after 3 months than he started on thiladomide again disesase was in remission noe he undergo stemcell transplant just one month back. now disease is in remission i think stem cell transplant is the best cure at this time

Hi, I had a SCT over 6 years ago for non hodgkins lymphoma at age 39 (female). I went through 6 mon of chemo, radiation therapy, and 2 high dose chemos in a 14 mon. period, so my body was pretty run down by the time I had the SCT. I never questioned not having it, it was a life or death choice. Receiving the stem cells was tough, it was like being dinner to a dozen vampires at once. I think I took it harder than the other patient who was also getting one in the next room, but he was a week ahead of me and a bit more perky. Everyone reacts differently to the drugs and a SCT, everyone has a different medical history. Basically it took me 5 years to recover. The first month or two was brutal. The blood counts were so low it made me tired just to walk a few feet, plus I had to recover from lying in bed for a month. I slept an avg of 12 hrs a day for the first year (yes, 12 months!), some days 14 hrs, some days 10 hrs. My body had been stressed by the treatment, for the inital 2 months I jumped at any loud sudden sound, the phone, the tv, someone calling my name. Listening to any music was too stressful for about 6 weeks. My hair grew in a bit whiter than usual, and the color began to return to its normal amount of grey after about 5 years (plus I am 5 yrs older). I kept walking when I could for excercise, after 3 yrs I could walk for 15 or 20 min, come home and lie down. By 5 yrs, I could walk 30-40 min, but usually 40 was pushing it. By 6 years, I can walk 45+ min. every day, close to my old self. After 5 yrs, my sleep requirements went back to normal 6-8 hrs. Every day felt like I was walking uphill waiting to get to the plateau, and I felt like I reached that plateau at the 4 yr mark, and felt like I was finally walking downhill at the 4.5 yr mark. It is tough on the body, and I don't think you can ever acheive your old energy or endurance levels again. It's kinda like being a table with a broken leg that has been splinted: you're functional, and function like your old self, but you have limits or you'll break, because you can't push yourself as hard as you used to. My memory has been pretty flakey from the treatment, it slowly improves. I want to stress everyone will react differently. My heart had been affected from the cancer, and I'm sure that is one reason the harsh treatment was tough on me. It's still better than being fertilizer for the daiseys. I hope this will help and I wish your mother luck.