Now 'The Plan' is to enter Swedish Hospital (the 'Big House' in medical slang) 10/11 to have an autologous (using my own cells) stem cell transplant. In brief there is a regimen of chemotherapy for ~ 5 days after admission that has the acronym BEAM. You can google the drugs but suffice it to say that the goal is to rid the bone marrow of any residual (undetectable) cancer and give the best chance for long term remission. One small detail of treatment is that your bone marrow is completely wiped out, hence the need for the stem cell transplant to repopulate it. Much like reseeding a lawn after using Roundup (and no, Roundup isn't one of the BEAM drugs, but you get the idea...).
The actual transplant is scheduled for 10/18 and is dependent on the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC). There is much preparation needed for the day of transplantation, hence the work-back schedule to be admitted on 10/11. PSBC did the original stem cell harvesting and all of the magic involved in giving the stem cells back to me.
Sounds like I may be reasonably human by Thanksgiving according to those in the know, so will look forward to recovering and getting on with this thing called life that has been a little on hold for several months.
Thanks for your kindness, prayers, and good Karma-we are doing well and heading into the home stretch!
Kindest wishes and many thanks to you all for the support that keeps me going!
T
No signs of active lymphoma -- great news, indeed! At least there's been some benefit to putting life on hold. You'd certainly hate to go through all this and then have the onc tell you, "no change." And however slowly the clock seems to tick, you'll quickly see a T'giving turkey on your table. Hangin' tough with ya, my friend!
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