Sunday, September 7, 2008

Am in what Dr Seuss coined the 'Waiting Place.' Waiting on the word from my doc, who with the chief physicians (for oncology and transplants, respectively) is conferring on the best pre-transplant chemo plan after a disappointing turn of events: Last 2 rounds of chemo didn't kick in. Tumors didn't shrink, as expected, but even grew slightly. Docs suspect the illness may have changed its state. Unfortunately, not to Iowa. Still in Republic of Yours Truly, but may be changing from indolent (slow / medium-rare) to aggressive lymphoma. Don't really matter either way. You wouldn't wanna put either on your Christmas wish list.

Essentially, it means that the treatment road map heads off of the slow, pokey side routes and onto the freeways. Time to act fast. We need to quickly assure that the tumors in my abdominal lymph nodes, where we have 'em cornered, don't reproduce and spread throughout the lymph node system.

I'll be needing not just the autologous (i.e., my own) bone marrow / stem cell transplant but also an allogeneic one (i.e., from a stem cell donor, exactly whom is still TBD ). The latter transplant isn't exactly a gimme putt, nor are its side effects cake walks. A lot depends on how well the donor's blood type matches up to your own. Must admit that the turn of events and the prospect of allogeneic transplant had my timbers shivering for about a week Meanwhile, I'm back to thinking +. Especially as the docs say the chances of avoiding complications and side effects are pretty good in my case: The U.S. has the largest pool of donors to choose from, if my brother's or sister's blood don't match.* (* As some friends have asked if they might be tested to see if they are potential donors, I offer into this round an answer to that and some related FAQs:

Theoretically, you can, but it's truly a longshot. And my docs say it's such a longshot that, rather than be inundated with faxes and email from my friends, their efforts are better directed searching through the existing U.S. donor pool.

Whereas your chances of being 'my type' are slim, there are thousands of other recipients who are now or eventually will be looking. For one of thom, you might someday make their Kim-Lucky day. You need to have an "HLA blood typing" done and then be added to the database. Ask your doctor or visit this info page on bone marrow donations (in English) or, for Germany, this one.

F-Y'all's-I, contrary to popular (and formerly my own) belief, collecting your stem cells for a bone marrow transplant doesn't involve oil-rigging into your spine but rather tapping your blood from an IV in one arm; sending it through a machine to sift out your biggest, strongest blood stem cells; and returning it thankfully to you via IV into the other arm. Similarly, my transplants will be done via IV. No drilling. The abovelinked English info page has a mythbusters sections for more info.)