Faced with decision to have Bone Marrow Transplant or not

Welcome, @ajheustess.
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself so that I can connect you with other members who have had a bone marrow transplant? What type of BMT is being considered for you? What condition is being treated?

hello. I am a 74 year old patient considering the same. I am also looking for comments from other patients who have undergone this procedure, and their outcomes.

Hi @omioften10 There are a number of us in the forum who have gone through the bone marrow transplant process. I’m going to suggest that you had over to this discussion:

My bone marrow transplant story: Will you share yours?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/my-bone-marrow-transplant-bmt-story-will-you-share-yours/
That way you can connect with myself, (@loribmt) @alive @edb1123 @kt2013 @jenmkr63 @timt347 and others who have gone through this process for a variety of reasons. There are other discussions as well but this might be a good place to start.

I see you’ve been a member for awhile but this is your first time posting. Would you mind sharing what is requiring you to need a bone marrow transplant? Do you know if this is a transplant using your own cells or do you require a donor?

I was recently diagnosed with AML. I am just completing my first 22 day
chemo cycle and will have another bone marrow biopsy next Friday to see how
I responded. Other than my bone marrow issue I am healthy and my doctors
have told me a transplant is my only chance for cure.

I had a similar story. AML, remission with no option but a transplant. I’m coming up on 5 years post transplant and feeling like nothing ever happened! I was 65 at the time, and while a challenge, I would certainly do it all over again if I had to. Seeing that you’re in excellent health otherwise, even at 74 this should be doable.
I am a mentor for my local cancer center where I underwent all the chemo for AML. I now mentor other patients who have AML, requiring a transplant. The most recent patients have been in their 70s to 75 and have had very positive outcomes as well.
There are a number of protocol requirements and that is to have a caregiver 24/7 for about 100 days. Not that you’ll be an invalid, but as with all your chemo, there will be times when you won’t be able to drive, get groceries or feel like cooking. Your caregiver will also need to accompany you to all your appointments.
Another is that most clinics that do transplants require patients to be within 30 minutes of the clinic for 100 days. Are you near the clinic where your transplant will take place?

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I live in Central Wisconsin
and am being seen at Mayo in Rochester

We really do have a lot in common. I’m also from Wisconsin…closer to Green Bay. Rochester is my home away from home and that transplant teams there are second to none! We still marvel at the amazing experience I had and still have follow-ups. I was told repeated that ‘we’re married for life’ by my team and they meant it. So you’re in excellent hands. It’s a little early, but have you been matched with a donor yet?

It is so helpful to hear from you! Next Friday I will have the first bone
marrow biopsy after completing round one of chemo. So everything depends on
those results. I am not always as patient with this process as I would
like. I am praying for wisdom.

Wishing you well on your biopsy. It’s an important one. It will let your doctor know how well the blasts were knocked down in that first round of chemo. Fingers crossed for you! I remember it all very well…I was going through all the chemo and then waiting for transplant 5 years ago right now. My first chemo was Feb 11, 2019. I had 2 more rounds after that which held me until the preconditioning chemo for transplant the end of June that year.
Wisdom will come as you keep plugging along with this! You’re being tossed an entirely new language and terminology you never expected to learn. Amazing what new tricks we ‘old dogs’ can learn, huh?
Now, patience, on the other hand is a tough one to learn. It’s as though this is all hurry up and wait…you’ll have quite a few hours waiting impatiently…sorry. ☺️ I spent lots of time with a little watercolor set I brought along, binging on Netflix, reading and sleeping.
I’m here anytime you need me. I’ll check in with you after next Friday too…let me know how you did, ok?

Thank you so much!