Hello everyone! Im back from a long, test fest at Vanderbilt. Everything looks good as far as labs, tests, etc. We spoke with my nurse practioner Liz, and she gave us lots of information as far as transplant is concerned.
I have 2 options at this point for transplant:
1.) Undergo the standard of care regimen which includes a chemo called CBV, and would be done on a outpatient basis, of course I would have to come to the hospital daily for labs etc. I would be staying in an apartment in Nashville right across the street connected by skybridge.
2.) Participate in a Phase III clinical trial comparing the drugs Bexxar/BEAM, and Rituxan/BEAM. Its randomized that 1/2 will receive one regimen, and the other half the other. This trial seems to have great promise, and my doctors are thinking this might be the standard of care eventually in the coming years. The downside you ask? Ill be inpatient for at 37 days.
So I am pondering on these 2 options today, and waiting for my nurse to call back saying what the doctor truely thinks my best bet is.
I also had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday that is sore. They actually drew 20 tubes of blood... I counted.
Another option I might have is banking eggs. With these chemo regimens there is a high likelihood that I will be sterile after this, so if it just takes a couple of days, then I will probably do that. But, if its going to put my transplant back, then I dont think it would be prudent to wait. Theres still people out there who have had transplants that have went on to have more babies so Im not losing hope if Im not able to bank any.
I will receive a high dose of the chemo drug Cytoxan, sometime with stem cell mobilization, then use a growth factor for about 10 days to make my bone marrow go in overdrive producing stem cells so they will spill over into my bloodstream, thus being able to collect them through a huge IV I will have in my chest called a Hickman catheter.
Im all over the place in this post, but as of now, many things are up in the air right now as far as treatment is concerned, as I dont have the schedule for trials.
One thing that is for sure, we will be having a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year in Nashville.
Ill post more, when I know more! Just wanted to let everyone know my visit to Nashville was a productive one.
I also wanted to mention in my post, a very sweet young lady, Rina Fitria, who was a fellow lymphoma warrior passed away this week. She passed at Cancer Treatment Center of America in Tulsa, OK. Please keep her, her family, and friends in your prayers and hearts. If you would like to read of Rina's journey, please visit her blog that is listed on my main page.
2 comments:
wow! lots of news. and GOOD news! i would love to see you be able to do the study. except for that inpatient thing. kara, you are going to get past this-i just know it! praying for you always!
That sure is a lot to all take in . I agree with Heather on the study it will be interesting to see what your Onc decides on. I can't wait untill this is all over for you and you can have Merry Christmas after all. You deserve it!
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