[dinoParticipant]

I am in remission from MM and am going through STC. I thought I woul share the high and low of the harvest I had yesterday. Prior to the harvest I had the chemo and self injecting the GCSF for white cell growth. A week of injections and by Tuesday evening my lumbar region was excruciatingly painful with a thobbing feeling. I also had a throbbing in 1 tooth causing massive pain. Paracetamol did not work well but Co-Codamol did. The throbbing coincided with my cartorid artery pulse so I assumed that the pain was lots of cells bing in the bone marrow and blood.

My blood test on Wednesday showed a number of 1.9 which is very low but this was 9.9 on the ay of the harvest. All hooked up and I was advised the procedure would take approx 4 to 4.5 hrs. The aim is to harvest 2million cells per Kg of weight. As I am a malee at 100Kgs that is 200 Million cells. The team always hope to get two sets to store for a second STC so that is 400 million cells.

The low:- At just over 2 hours I felt hot and then passed out resulting in Addenbrookes crash team rushing around. When I cam to there were about 20 people seeing to me, brilliant care and evn groggy I knew I was in great hands. It transpires I am the one in a year that has an issue, typical me. The team stopped the harvest and after everything was finished I spent the night on a ward coming home pm today, none the worst for wear.

The high:- The STC team had the 2 hours harvest checked and were amazed that not only did they harvest the 2 lots for STC but actually harvested 760 million cells, nearly 4 times an amount for STC. I now know why I ached a few days before. 4 times the cells in half the allotted time, I am I pleased.

The thobbing in the back has stopped and the tooth is getting beter although a dental visit is planned to deermine root cause (sorry about the pun).

They say everyone is different and this just shows yet again what the body can do when up against it.

Next week are the heart, kidney and lung tests and then early next month the STC procdure. I wonder what I have in store for the team then?

[avrilro55Participant]

Hi Dino.  I am under Addenbrookes. They amazing. Who is your Consultant? I have a lot of dealings with the speciality nurse, Helen Goad, who i think is wonderful. My consultant is George Vassilou. I am also in remission at rhe ,oment after one course of CDT but not going to have a SCT. Good luck with the next part. Ww

[dinoParticipant]

Avril I am under Jenny Craig for the STC, my CDT was at Peterborough. My clinical nurse is Bev. Yes the whole NHS has been brill. I am glad you are in remission I have been since August. I decided on the STCbecause I was advised the remission period averaged 18 months. I went to an infoday and spoke with others who have had STCand also one of the consultants who were very positive on the procedure. What ever you choose good luck for the future. If you are local me and want to shoot the breeze let me know I would be happy to meet up.

Graeme(Dino)

[avrilro55Participant]

Hi Graeme

What a small world. I have been under Jenny for a few months as Dr Vassillou has been on sabbatical for 6 months soing research into blood and bone marrow cancers! He returns early November. My next appointment is the 27th when i also have my bone infusion . I actually live in Norfolk. My Myeloma was discovered in February 2014 when i was take. Ill with. Plasmcytoma. My levels are very low although they have risen slightly over the last couple of months. See what Jenny has to say when i see her on the 27th. We going to India on holiday in January so hope no treatment before then.  Good luck and take care. Avril

[christaylorParticipant]

Hi Dino,  I read your post with fascination and admiration, it brought back memories of Feb/Mar this year. The pain you describe while doing the cell boosting injections is something that I found underestimated wow it was so painful, my friend who was injecting the same time as me ended up in A&E with chest pain it was that bad. Your positive attitude even the root cause joke shows how strong you are and I congratulate you for that. Take that forward for your coming SCT it will be the best medicine.  When you have the transplant you may have further GCSF injections to kick start the cells, I found that period waiting for the cells to engraft the most scary. But once they do engraft I got a massive up lift. I wish you all the best for your pre medical, and your transplant .

Take care CT.

[avrilro55Participant]

Hi Graeme

thought i would let u know i heard from my speciality nurse at Addenbrookes today that the full skeletal scan i had ahows no new lesions and everything looks stable. I see Jenny Craig on the 27th so don’t expect to go back on treatment yet. I hope u doing ok as well. All the best Avril

[dinoParticipant]

Avril,

That is good to hear.

Chris,

Many thanks for your comments and words of support, very welcomed.

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