[dee11Participant]

Hi, I’ve just started my first cycle of chemotherapy in preparation for stem cell early next year. I’m interested in connecting with other patients particularly under the age of 40 as I’m aware treatment is different for different age groups. Thanks

[greg777Participant]

Hi Dee,

I was 36 when diagnosed two years ago – not nice to be in the “extremely rare” group as my doctor put it. I had VCD, followed by tandem stem cell transplant (auto, then an allo 3 months later). Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

All the best,

Greg

[dee11Participant]

Hi Greg

<span style=”text-align: right;”>Thanks for the response, yes if I hear about how rare our group is one more time haha (we’re actually the same age funny enough). I have all the info on the auto stem cell but haven’t heard of allo? I will look this up tonight. May I ask how your recovery period after the transplant went? </span>

Dee

[greg777Participant]

Hi Dee,

An allo transplant is a donor transplant, the exact same process as an auto except it is someone else’s cells going back in. The thought process is the donor’s stem cells might do a better job of attacking the myeloma cells. But it is considered higher risk as there are more potential complications.

I did mine more than 18 months ago so I honestly don’t know what the current thinking is about them, but worth asking your team about them as I think they are still considered in younger myeloma patients.

Recovery time for the auto was about 3 months, for the allo a lot longer – about 9 months, but it can vary from person to person. The process is remarkably the same, the difference is the after-effects are greater with an allo.

Hope this helps,

Greg

 

[Author]

Posts