Following Monday's good news that there was enough stem cells in my blood stream Jen and I headed off to MRI yesterday morning for an 8.30am harvest.
Stem cells are harvested by a line out of my arm that pumps the blood from the vein under pressure, through a machine that using a centrifuge to spin and separate the blood. The stem cells then find their way into a bag for future storage, whilst the remaining blood is returned back to my body via a canular into my other arm.
The process takes around 5 hours and you need to sit incredibly still (particularly your left arm) - having a wee was a bit of an experience and not one for those who are slightly embarrassed!!!
Each stem cell transplant requires around 2 million stem cells. The stem cell team came to see me and were hoping for around 4 million, they always try to take enough for 2 transplants, stem cells can be stored for up to 10 years so if I needed another one I wouldn't have to go through this process again. Given my height, weight and the fact I'm a fairly, ahem, young patient they decided to try for 6 million cells.
The day was long and tiring, not just for me but for Jen. We finally left MRI around 4.15pm battling our way through the traffic on the Mancunian Way to get home at 5.20pm.
The stem cell team rang at 6pm to say they hadn't got the exact figure but it was between 10 & 12 million stem cells - so I didn't need to return today as they are happy they have got enough 😉
The transplant team came to see me whilst I was on the machine and I am booked in for the actual transplant - it all takes place during week commencing 22/8 although I have several appointments beforehand. However the harvest has gone well, it couldn't have gone any better and the first stage is now over.
Time to rest up now and get ready for the next stage.
Wednesday 27 July 2016
Monday 25 July 2016
Myeloma, MRI & Me
Its been a while since my last blog and quite a lot has happened.
For those that follow me on Twitter @SteveMartlew you will know that in November 2015 my health started to deteriorate. I lost a lot of weight and my para-protein levels rose (para-protein is a way of measuring the level of Myeloma in my blood). In December doctors at Wigan decided to start chemotherapy and therefore on 15th January 2016 I started on a course of VTD chemotherapy.
V stands for Velcade, T for Thalidomide and D for Dexamethasone. This combination of tablets and injections were given, along with a whole host of other medication to negate the side effects, over 6, 28 day cycles from January through to June.
I managed to cope really well with the chemo, maintaining a fairly normal quality of life and I'm proud to say I didn't take a single day off work sick. The tiredness and fatigue were really difficult to cope with at the end of cycle 5 & 6 however the results of the chemo were exactly what the doctors wanted.
A para-protein level of 44.5g per litre of blood reduced to an amount so small it was immeasurable at the end of cycle 6 which means I'm classed as being in complete remission.
The next stage of my treatment is a stem cell transplant. This a 2 stage process where High Dose Chemotherapy is given and then stem cells are taken from my body followed by another dose of chemotherapy and the stem cells given back to me. Whilst this doesn't rid my body of the Myeloma, there is no cure, it should build in greater time before the Myeloma returns.
The first stage of my stem cell transplant started last Monday (18/7) with a trip to Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI). As an outpatient I received intra-venous (IV) Ondansetron (anti-sickness), Mesna (a protective drug for my kidneys and bladder) as well as Cyclophosphamide (the chemotherapy drug). It was a long and tiring day although the staff were absolutely fantastic. The purpose of the chemo is to kill any residual Myeloma cells but also to trick the body in shutting down stem cell creation. Side effects of the chemo are sickness and nausea, hair loss, restlessness and tiredness.
The day after, Tuesday 19th July, I started GCSF injections, administered by me in my stomach. The injections result in the body going into over drive in the production of stem cells. The body produces so many stem cells that they spill out of the bone marrow and into the blood stream. Side effects of the GCSF injections are bone pain.
All in all its not been a great week but I still regard myself as being very, very lucky to be here to be fighting on. When I think of the friends I have lost to cancer it makes me even more determined to fight harder, but also very thankful for the opportunity to do so.
I returned to MRI this morning for a blood test to see whether there are enough stem cells in my blood stream to commence harvest. Apparently the greater the bone pain the better the chances that there will be. I was informed the bone pain in my back and hips has been likened, by female patients, to labour pains. If that's the case its a good job child bearing wasn't down to me, we would only have had 1 !!!!!
I received a call late this afternoon that the staff are happy with the level of stem cells in my blood and I will go straight to harvest tomorrow morning.
So another early start to get to MRI for 8.30am but hopefully they will harvest enough stem cell in 1 sitting tomorrow.
I will blog again tomorrow or Wednesday with an update.
For those that follow me on Twitter @SteveMartlew you will know that in November 2015 my health started to deteriorate. I lost a lot of weight and my para-protein levels rose (para-protein is a way of measuring the level of Myeloma in my blood). In December doctors at Wigan decided to start chemotherapy and therefore on 15th January 2016 I started on a course of VTD chemotherapy.
V stands for Velcade, T for Thalidomide and D for Dexamethasone. This combination of tablets and injections were given, along with a whole host of other medication to negate the side effects, over 6, 28 day cycles from January through to June.
I managed to cope really well with the chemo, maintaining a fairly normal quality of life and I'm proud to say I didn't take a single day off work sick. The tiredness and fatigue were really difficult to cope with at the end of cycle 5 & 6 however the results of the chemo were exactly what the doctors wanted.
A para-protein level of 44.5g per litre of blood reduced to an amount so small it was immeasurable at the end of cycle 6 which means I'm classed as being in complete remission.
The next stage of my treatment is a stem cell transplant. This a 2 stage process where High Dose Chemotherapy is given and then stem cells are taken from my body followed by another dose of chemotherapy and the stem cells given back to me. Whilst this doesn't rid my body of the Myeloma, there is no cure, it should build in greater time before the Myeloma returns.
The first stage of my stem cell transplant started last Monday (18/7) with a trip to Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI). As an outpatient I received intra-venous (IV) Ondansetron (anti-sickness), Mesna (a protective drug for my kidneys and bladder) as well as Cyclophosphamide (the chemotherapy drug). It was a long and tiring day although the staff were absolutely fantastic. The purpose of the chemo is to kill any residual Myeloma cells but also to trick the body in shutting down stem cell creation. Side effects of the chemo are sickness and nausea, hair loss, restlessness and tiredness.
The day after, Tuesday 19th July, I started GCSF injections, administered by me in my stomach. The injections result in the body going into over drive in the production of stem cells. The body produces so many stem cells that they spill out of the bone marrow and into the blood stream. Side effects of the GCSF injections are bone pain.
All in all its not been a great week but I still regard myself as being very, very lucky to be here to be fighting on. When I think of the friends I have lost to cancer it makes me even more determined to fight harder, but also very thankful for the opportunity to do so.
I returned to MRI this morning for a blood test to see whether there are enough stem cells in my blood stream to commence harvest. Apparently the greater the bone pain the better the chances that there will be. I was informed the bone pain in my back and hips has been likened, by female patients, to labour pains. If that's the case its a good job child bearing wasn't down to me, we would only have had 1 !!!!!
I received a call late this afternoon that the staff are happy with the level of stem cells in my blood and I will go straight to harvest tomorrow morning.
So another early start to get to MRI for 8.30am but hopefully they will harvest enough stem cell in 1 sitting tomorrow.
I will blog again tomorrow or Wednesday with an update.
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