So, for those not on Facebook, back on Feb 22 I gave an update on my health status with:

I'm getting ready to have a bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant or SCT. Last July, my oncologist told me that my Mantle Cell Lymphoma had come back after having been in remission since Mar 2009. Everything is now on track for my SCT which has the potential for a permanent cure of the MCL.

 

Two weeks ago, a bone marrow biopsy showed no evidence of MCL so I'm back in remission. Then yesterday, my sister (who is a 10 out of 10 match for donation) went through apheresis, or collection of her stem cells, and I'm scheduled to be admitted to UC Davis medical center on Sunday Mar 3. They'll give me ATG, an anti-rejection drug, from Mar 4-8th, as well as 10 sessions of low-dose radiation from Mar 4-14th. I'll get the transplant on Fri Mar 15. Another 14-20 more days and then I'll be released to home for recovery.

 

Everything looks good, and I have wonderful support but just wanted to let everyone know why I'll be a bit out of touch for a while.

Here's today's update:

Just wanted to give a quick update on what's going on for me. Just finished the first of the two weeks of prep for the bone marrow transplant. My sister's cells were collected back on Feb 21 and are frozen and waiting and I'll get them this coming Friday, March 15.

This past week was daily radiation treatment in the morning - what's called TLI or "Total Lymphoid Irradiation" - which means just of the major lymph systems, not of the whole body (which is TBI). So - it takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on how long it takes for them to line everything up. When I got back from radiation, I then had an infusion of ATG, which is the anti-rejection drug so to lower any chance of rejecting my sister's cells. It's not a lot of volume, but they infuse it slowly so it actually takes 12 hours.

This weekend is a "rest period" - I'm still in the hospital and getting IV saline (for hydration), but nothing really big. Monday, I'll start the morning radiation again with Thursday both a morning session and then one afternoon one six hours later. I'm done with the ATG - that's only done for the first week. And like I said - Friday morning, they warm up and infuse the cells from my sister.

They'll be more drugs starting Thursday to minimize any potential host/graph rejection issues, and after the transplant, I'll still be in here for 14-20 days (basically, when my blood counts show that the transplant has taken root in my bones and producing sufficient white cells that I can go home). And at that point, it is being able to live at home, but isolated and just getting stronger for a few months and then back to work!

So - mood has been decent. I get a little stir crazy but still keeping in decent touch with the "outside world." Appreciate all of the notes and messages I've gotten. A good friend recently posted that she didn't realize she was so grateful for Facebook, cause she was missing me and then realized he could check on me. My brother posted something similar as well.

And I agree - I get to see a little bit of all of your lives as well, and don't feel isolated even if I'm "stuck" here for a month.

AND if anyone wants to add me as a friend on Facebook, I am www.facebook.com/Trebs - but send me a message too so I know who the request came from please.