Preparing for consultation & BMT transplant

Good morning, @chefra and welcome to Mayo Connect. I’m so glad you found us. Navigating through the interesting challenges of a bone marrow transplant can be made much easier by being able to speak with someone who has walked the walk.
We have a growing number of members here in Connect who have had BMT for MDS, AML and a host of other conditions. So I hope you and your husband will feel at home here with us.
If you don’t mind sharing a little more about your husband’s (and your) story, I’d love to have you join us over here in a discussion I started a few years ago after my BMT for AML. I’m almost 6 years post transplant, 71 and feeling fabulous! ☺️ We’re all about hope!

~My bone marrow transplant story. Will you share yours?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/my-bone-marrow-transplant-bmt-story-will-you-share-yours/
At Day 26 (27 now) I’m expecting you’re still living near the transplant center. Was your husband an inpatient or was his transplant an outpatient procedure?

I don’t know where my story went but I was not done & do not have time to start over!!

My Husband aged 40 diagnosed with AML last month , done with the 6 Chemo in University of Alberta Hospital . All Bone marrow Biopsy and Spinal Biopsy done well. Doctor said chances of 50% for BMT ,waiting till next month for the Confirmation. My Son is 17 yrs and ready as a Donor .If anyone can share How the things work after BMT like side effects and How to cope up also I hope it is safe for my Son Future. After How Many years He will be Cancer Free. Please answer me

Hello @anitasharma I’m so sorry to hear your husband has AML. I began all of that drama 6 years ago this month. It’s not an easy journey by any means, for the patient or caregiver!

Depending on the mutations behind your husband’s AML, a bone marrow transplant (Allogenic stem cell transplant) may be the ideal outcome for him. Some mutations are more likely to cause a relapse in the disease, making it more difficult to treat going forward. However there are some mutations where the chemo is enough and no BMT is required.

A bone marrow transplant remains the only potential cure for AML at this time. I had a transplant following my treatment for AML. I am almost 6 years post transplant, 71 years young and living an amazing 2nd life! My life expectancy now is that of someone who wasn’t diagnosed with cancer. Generally speaking, a BMT patient is considered ‘cured’ if there is no recurrence of the AML after 5 years.
Your husband, being very young, would most likely go on to live a full and healthy life if all goes according to plan. Bone marrow transplants, through research, data and patient experiences keep being fine-tuned for less side effects and successful outcomes.

If your son can be the donor, he’d be literally giving his father the gift of life. With the donation, for your son, there is very little risk of side effects. The process for harvesting stem cells is getting to be very routine. He most likely would be given meds the week before which would help stimulate growth of more stem cells. When it’s time to collect the cells, the process is very similar to donating blood. However, it takes a little longer as his blood would be filtered through a machine with a closed loop. The stem cells are collected from the blood as it passes through the machine and the blood is then returned immediately to the donor sans stem cells.

For your husband, the commitment is greater. Having a BMT takes time to recover and heal. There will be a period where he and a caregiver will be required to be near the transplant center for a required amount of time. Depends on the protocol of the hospital. All of it will sound a bit overwhelming as you learn more about the process. But it is doable and definitely worth the effort.

When you say your husband is 50% for the bmt, does that mean the doctor isn’t certain he needs it?

First of all appreciation for your Reply. I am thankful you replied so well each and everything seems to be good . Sorry In a hurry, I written AML whereas the Correct Diagnosed is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Thankyou for your kind words and motivational experience .
Allogenic stem cell transplant Yes this is recommended by Doctors. He is coming home after a month .Doctors wanted to test again after 3 weeks for the Bone Marrow and after the results they are Confirming weather BMT is required for him or not but they said 50% chances. I am away from my Country (India) with two kids and Husband here in Canada for almost 2 years now. He has just Diagnosed in Last month .Its a tough time but we want to fight for him. I would also like to know about GCSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor) as I heard its for Donor and it makes me little scary . Thankyou and Stay Blessed always .

Oh goodness, @anitasharma, you have a lot on your mind right now! It can’t be easy being so far from home, away from the support of family and friends with your husband’s medical crisis and taking care of your children. It does sound as though your husband is getting excellent medical care and advice.
We’ll wait for the confirmation of the BMT and then we can talk more about that. In the mean time, I’ll try to put your mind at rest about your son being the donor. Yes, he most likely would be given a GCSF medication to ‘push’ the production of more blood cells to be donated for your husband’s transplant. This medication, such as Neulasta,(there are others) is generally used for cancer patients who have undergone chemo to help replenish their neutrophils quickly to protect them from infection. Other patients who have low white blood counts also use this to treat that condition. Your husband may have had this after his chemo treatments.

I’ve had several injections of Neulasta myself and it worked effectively. The only short-lived side effect I had was bone pain but it was handled with daily doses of a common over the counter antihistamine called Claritin. (Taken daily for several days following the injection).

For your son, this isn’t a long term application. He will have only enough to stimulate the cells for the collection and should be a minimal risk for anything harmful for him. This is pretty routine for cell collection.
There is another option for donor cells…that being finding a donor on the international bone marrow registry. There are over 41 Million people globally on the registry. Your husband’s doctors can also utilize that source if your son isn’t a match or if you’re concerned for your son’s safety. However, strangers are doing this for people they’ve never met, in increasing numbers. If it were too dangerous I don’t think they would go through with it. I’m grateful every day for my (then) 20 year old male donor (that was 6 years ago).

We’ll hope for the best with the biopsy in 3 weeks. Not everyone with ALL requires a transplant. But if your husband does, they can be absolute life savers.
Do you have a support system around you with family or is everyone back in India? Is there a possibility of your husband having his transplant back home in India where you’d have more support?

Thankyou very much @loribmt for listening me.
I don't have any family members here in Canada just few good friends. You are such an amazing and strong personality despite of so many Health Challenges and You win with your Will Power.
I don't want to take him back to India as I believe the Doctors and Treatment which he is getting here in Canada is excellent. We’ll wait for the confirmation of the BMT and then we can talk more about that.
strangers are doing this for people they’ve never met, in increasing numbers. If it were too dangerous I don’t think they would go through with it. I’m grateful every day for my (then) 20 year old male donor (that was 6 years ago). This phrase of yours really Touched my Heart. We are making our minds ready for the upcoming things .I am really relaxed after talking to you as you have explained all this so nicely. You are very Brave Kind Human Being. I will surely disturb you again after a while .
Nice talking to you . Stay blessed and happy Healthy

Thank you for such a lovely and gracious reply. I’m here to offer support anytime, @anitasharma. When my husband and I went through this process there was no one we could speak with who had ‘walked the walk’. My BMT team was outstanding with offering information and encouragement. But it’s not the same as being able to speak to someone with firsthand knowledge.
That’s why I’m here, to offer support and hope to others going through the BMT process. It’s been a mission for me to pay it forward since I’ve been given a 2nd chance at life. It’s truly my honor to be able to help you and your husband. There are quite a few of us members in the group here and we’re all lifelines when you need us. ☺️
So, please, contact me with any questions, concerns or use me as a sounding board.
Wishing only the best for your husband, you and your family! You’re all going to get through this and be stronger on the other side! One thing I learned in the process is that we truly don’t know how strong we can be until strong is the only option. ☺️
How old are your children? How are they handling their daddy’s illness?

I have MM and just had a stem cell transplant at Mayo Rochester Jan 16, 2025. I was so freaked out about the procedure and side affects, I was questioning whether I needed the procedure. It went so much better than I expected. I took my anti nausea meds regularly, I only got sick once. I was home 19 days after transplant. I know everyone is different, but mine went very well. I feel good, but I have to wait until my immune system gets stronger to return to "normal". The hardest part is waiting! Best wishes!

Hi @mnhygiene1983 and welcome to Connect! Congratulations on your autologous stem cell transplant! Thank you for sharing your very honest experience with this procedure. I hope it brings @itlooksunny some peace of mind for her husband’s similar stem cell transplant coming up!
Being able to use one’s own stem cells is less traumatic for the body and recovery is usually much faster than with having to use donor cells. I think your information will be really encouraging for others about have a similar transplant.
Wishing you continued success and speedy recovery. Though the body is going to take its own sweet time so no pushing! ☺️ Rest when you need it…your body will tell you!

How far did you have to travel from your hometown to be able to stay at Mayo for the procedure?