Reduced intensity BMT

Diane! I was the same way about taking any drugs. Nope, not if I could help it!! 😅 Joke was on me as that all changed abruptly with AML and the BMT. Imagine my shock at learning I’d be having my own, dedicated pharmacist, with regular consults at Mayo! I gained a respect for chemo/meds. They, quite literally, saved my life! As I’m fond of saying, this 2nd chance at life we’re being given doesn’t come easily. So we take our meds, recover one day at a time and if all goes as planned, we are blessed with a new life and newfound appreciation for each day, each little moment that brings us joy and for the sense of accomplishment for having persevered through our cancer odyssey!

Wowza! What a great forum here! I am in the process of having a BMT for my Myelofibrosis. I absolutely want all the information gleamed from this group! Though I am terrified by this whole process I am also very excited to become free of cancer!! Thanks again for the info. Especially Lori for sharing your information in such a clear and personal fashion.

Hey @dirtycowgirl. You had me giggling with your @name! I’m sure there’s a story!
Well, welcome aboard the BMT hay wagon! You have come to a great place to have access to the collective wisdom of many of us who have gone before you, for our various blood cancers.
I’m 6 years post transplant for AML and in full remission. A good friend of mine, whom I met while we were both undergoing our transplants, had her BMT for MF. She’s cancer free, bone marrow is healthy and producing blood cells normally.

Whatever I can do to help ease your fear, please let me know. This obviously isn’t an easy process but it can be the opportunity of a lifetime…or should I say a 2nd lifetime.

Is there anything specific that you’d like to know to get started?Do you have a date for your BMT? Donor lined up?

Such a great explanation from Lori. I just want to add that being a former nurse and generally inquisitive person, I usually would read all about the drugs and their side effects plus all the possible GVHD issues. However, someone (maybe Lori) encouraged m pentode to read all of that because it a feel overwhelmingly scary and most side effects won’t happen to you. For once I didn’t over research. The fact was I had Eosinophilic leukemia and needed a transplant so knowing every terrible potential problem wasn’t going to help me. The doctors follow you so closely and every medication you are on has a good reason. Certainly ask and know what medications you are on but don’t worry about all the potential problems because they may not happen and you’ll only stress yourself unnecessarily. And amazingly I have had no GVHD and no adverse side effects from the meds - and lol with a history of autoimmune disorders I have previously had many side effects and problems in my past so if I can have a good outcome anyone can. All the best to you.

This is excellent advice. We’re all individuals, responding to medications differently and this really is a time when I don’t need to add more worry to an already very stressful situation. It’s good to be informed, but like you said, it can get very scary & what good does that do for you? In a meeting last week with the social worker, I complained about the booklet they gave me on SCT. I said it was alarming & could maybe make some people not want to get the transplant! I don’t think she appreciated my criticism, but hey….
Attitude is everything. And I feel strongly that a positive attitude helps us physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually!

Hi! I have a tentative admission date of August 8. SCT for MDS. I am looking forward to staying in touch with this wonderful group, with those that have already gone through this and those currently going through this journey.
I have always loved roller coasters. I would feel excited & a little scared at the same time waiting for my turn to get on the ride. I feel like I’m about to get on the roller coaster!

Just to clarify my comment above -there is a typo - I was encouraged NOT to read about all the possible side effects and GVHD problems because it was just more to worry about. For once I listened and did not over research about potential problems - it helped a lot to not have all those worries about what may happen on my mind.

Hi Deb, if you’d like to have the typo fixed in this reply: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1358997/

hit the 3 dots in the lower right corner and Report it. A box opens up where you can state the correction you’d to make and one of the moderators will do that for you!

Also, if you find you’ve made an error, want to add anything, etc., there is a 2 hour window where we can edit our replies!! Within that time period, again, you can click on the 3 dots and you’ll see Edit. Then you’re free to make any changes. ☺️ Too late for this time around but in the future….

Thank you so much. That’s really good to know.

Thank you @deb19 and @loribmt - it’s hard not ingesting every possible study and source of information but you are right- sometimes it’s really not that helpful and trusting the process is the path. I had a video visit with the BMT physician today- I’m still on a holding pattern- could be for a while. He said I have few symptoms- and with my previous endometrial cancer (no chemo or radiation) from 4 + years ago I am a medium intermediate risk. I’m comfortable with this approach for now. I will be monitored. They did a HLA search and found 4 donors- one over 40 so ruled out. That’s a 10 out of 10 match. They will continue to monitor until we get closer to the BMT. I do appreciate all of the questions and answers and dialogue here. I’m not alone with all of you in this ‘Connection Room’. Thank you