[MothasParticipant]

Leaving the Haemo ward on tuesday I was stopped by a patient at the lifts who asked if I was off, he was also hooked to a drip on a portable stand and had obviously been off for a toddle about the wards for some exercise. I was I replied. ?Do you know anything about stem cell transplants?? he asked, before going on to explain that he had leukaemia, it had relapsed and he was in preparation for a donor transplant. Now all this sounds very innocuous and it?s the kind of routine conversation that you?ll find between any cancer patient anywhere. I replied that I believed that stem cell transplants for leukaemia were to all accounts practically a cure.

I should at this stage mention a few odd things about the person I was talking to, I noticed that hovering a few feet away from him was a policeman, he was also accompanied by a lanky friend. There was a strong smell of beer and cigarettes. He spoke quickly and in an overexcited way. My inner urban danger detector went off the scale?.

?What?s the matter with you? he asked, I told him I had myeloma and was due a stem cell transplant too. His lanky friend at this point chipped in, ?myeloma?s incurable even with a stem cell transplant?, which is true. At this stage my new friend said ?oh you?re going to die then?, before turning round and continuing down the corridor. The policeman shook his head and followed after him, with his lanky friend. It wasn?t quite the departure I would have planned for, and in fact totally freaked me out compounding my fragile mood. This guy was obviously a prisoner let out for treatment. He was also an utter thoughtless moron.

[eveParticipant]

Hi Young Tom

Well lets face it,there are morons every were Tom,you were not quick enough with a reply,yes you should have said,and given him some facts on the chances of him surviving a SCT,lying of course.:-P he would have been running for the nearest loo.!!!

You are young and fit,and you are going to sail through this,and with a bit of luck become the old Tom on here,and the old Tom will become ancient Tom.,get that bag packed,will not be long.Eve.

I have noticed when we go to Kings,the place seems to have a lot of prisoners and warders about,even seen cops with guns in there,I think it is one of the main hospitals for any incidents going on in London..

[LizMaywoodParticipant]

Dear Tom

dont let his thoughlessness upset you- easy to write I know, but with your age, fitness- and a very good yield of stem cells (which must indicate your marrow is in a pretty good state?) you should be in for a long remission. I had my transplant Oct 2011 and still going strong and intending to for many more years.

Take care

liz

[wendyduffieldParticipant]

Hi Tom

what a complete and utter idiot (I want to say something else but its not allowed!) Don't let it play on your mind, you've done fine. Enjoy the break from treatment between now and your transplant, have some fun, get away etc

Love Wendy

[tomParticipant]

Hi Tom

Well we get them scattered all over the place people that are a darn nuisance to themselves and everyone they drunkenly bump into.

Take no Notice Tom they don't know any better am afraid 🙁
Stay Strong and don't let the Lumps knock you stay Positive 😀

Tom (the old one) Onwards and Upwards

[VickiParticipant]

Tom,

What a prat that man was but hey what does he or his lanky friend know…..scts do give long remission and why should you not be one of them, and oh yes…..we are all going to die sometime but for all of us lets hope not be any time soon. You and your 8million little cells will sail through this. You can do it, it's a long battle but one worth the fight.

Chins up and take no notice of mr one sandwich short of a picnic xx who clearly doesn't think very far ahead and is totally insensitive 🙂

Vicki and Colin x

[tonyfParticipant]

Takes all types of pratts to make up our world, sounds like you got a good one there!
Don't let it get you down, ask yourself a question where are you going when you finish the stem cell treatment and they tell you that you are in remission?
And where is your new found friend going when he finishes his treatment?
Haha chin up mate.
Regards Tony F

[HelenRParticipant]

Ugh, sorry you had to deal with that Tom, just what you don't need.

Wise words above. Don't let him – or anyone and what they say – knock you off your stride. You're doing really well (bumper harvest indeed!!) and nearly into the SCT now.

I know what you mean about those fragile moments, particularly when you're physically battered by treatment and waiting for another stage. Give yourself a pat on the back for being normal. And a treat for each stage you get through 🙂 And taxi rides, steer clear of the tube and make a cabby's day I say! You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the delights of the metropolitan line when you're in Complete Remission, jetting off to the airport on exotic holidays etc.

Helen

[mhnevillParticipant]

Hi Tom

I agree with what all the others have said. He just caught you on the raw, but you are going to get the longest of remission a following you SCT just to show him who has the last laugh.

Look forward to hearing when you are through the other side.

Regards.

Mavis

[MothasParticipant]

Hi Eve, liz, wendy, Tom senior, Vicki and colin, Tony, Helen, Mavis,

I was more non-plussed than anything I think. I did manage a nonchalant response 'we're all going to die at some point' smiled and walked off. He was genuinely on a wind-up and wanted a rise from someone. What a sad and weird character.

We've all faced this kind of idiocy at some point, I thank you for your collective wisdom.

all the best

Tom

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