National Marrow Awareness Month 11-1-11 I have learned that this month – November – is National Bone Marrow Awareness Month. It has not been well publicized, but I heard about this from Costco so it must be true. This is actually the second month this year to focus on bone marrow or stem cell transplants asContinue reading “National Bone Marrow Awareness Month”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Update on Transplant
Update on Transplant 10-22-11 Paul has been out of the hospital for over two weeks and has not needed a transfusion during that time – and that is the longest he has gone since March. His white blood cells remain within the normal range. His red blood cell and platelet counts are still low, but holding steady. Continue reading “Update on Transplant”
Ethics and Markets – Stem Cells
Ethics and Markets – Stem Cells 10-19-11 A couple of recent developments have motivated me to make a few comments beyond the opinions I sometimes interject into these posts. The first is that a friend recently asked about the ethics of stem cell transplants. Apparently the phrase “stem cell transplant” has become a kind of buzzContinue reading “Ethics and Markets – Stem Cells”
Houston: We Have Engraftment
Houston: We Have Engraftment 10-4-11 I have been waiting for a few days to post this. As you may have noticed from prior posts, I like to at least try to understand some of the science behind the stem cell or bone marrow transplant process. I believe that it has been established scientifically that ifContinue reading “Houston: We Have Engraftment”
Transplant Update
Transplant Update 9-19-11 This seems like a good time to update Paul’s progress for several reasons. First, he received the stem cell transplant one week ago. Next, I attended a high school reunion last weekend and several people asked about him. Finally, Paul is entering another very important phase of the process. Before getting to the update, letContinue reading “Transplant Update”
Transplant Completed
Transplant Completed 9-12-11 My brother has completed the chemotherapy, waited 48 hours for the drugs to leave his system and has actually received the stem cell transplant. The proceure itself was uneventful. The stem cells collected when I was in Houston had been frozen and stored until today when they were thawed and transplanted intoContinue reading “Transplant Completed”
Stem Cell Donation – One Week Later
Stem cell donation – One Week Later 9-6-11 As I said previously, the only thing that matters about my stem cell donation is whether the transplant my brother will receive next week is successful. Still, some folks have been kind enough to ask how I am feeling a week after the harvesting process was completed. ThankContinue reading “Stem Cell Donation – One Week Later”
Beginning the Chemotherapy
Beginning the Chemotherapy 9-5-11 Happy Labor Day. This is the first post-donation update on my brother’s stem cell transplant. It is important to understand that stem cell transplants, which offer the only real cure for myelofibrosis, are not possible for everyone having the disorder. It is a very intense treatment and many patients are notContinue reading “Beginning the Chemotherapy”
Stem Cell Donation – Day 10
Stem Cell Donation – Day 10 8-31-11 Six point one million. For my brother’s stem cell transplant, at least 4,000,000 cells were needed. Over the two days of apheresis, 6,100,000 were collected. The bone pain from taking the Neupogen is worse today than it has been any other day, but I don’t care. I accomplishedContinue reading “Stem Cell Donation – Day 10”
Stem Cell Donation – Day 9
Stem Cell Donation – Day 9 8-30-11 At least 4 million stem cells are needed for the transplant. I returned to the apheresis unit this morning to see if we made that goal yesterday. The total was 3.26 million. So, I had to take two more Neupogen shots and give some more blood. I learned thatContinue reading “Stem Cell Donation – Day 9”