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My Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT/SCT) story: Will you share yours?
The past two years have been a storied journey of facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia and a subsequent bone marrow transplant. Being in a high risk category for relapse for AML, a transplant was necessary. Simply put, it would provide a completely new immune system to fend off any remaining AML cells lurking about in my body, after my original factory installed version had become defective in recognizing them. My husband and I shared a collective sigh of relief with the news that my latest bone marrow biopsy, at 19 months post transplant, showed no AML or the mutation which caused it. My new immune system is working!
While celebrating the results with my husband and a pizza, it occurred to me how far I’ve come and how life has changed in the past two years since the onset of AML and the transplant. There have been some challenging transitions but none insurmountable. Of course, life as a genetically modified organism, with two sets of DNA and a new blood type, can have its turf wars with a few GvHD issues, adaptations to medications and such. But I’m incredibly happy to have a second chance with this generous gift of life from an anonymous donor, and through the medical expertise of my amazing BMT-team at Mayo-Rochester. Hopefully I can meet my donor someday to thank him in person. I did send him a card right after the transplant giving him my “undying” gratitude!
We’ve all been given a gift of life. I’d love to hear your story. Lori
What diagnosis brought you to a BMT?
How has it impacted your life and that of your caregiver?
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Sally, I had my transplant with a 10/10 donor in April. My hair had just hit my shoulders from losing all my hair with breast cancer and then MDS. I thought for a 2nd before i said yes to the transplant, would my red hair grow back again grow back? Well, as my zoom friends in Breast cancer.org said, I am looking now like Annie Lennox. My hair is red but more brown and some grey. The 2ndtime i got out my beanies and bought more. Headcovers.com and other places have cute hats.
I had my transplant at City of Hope in CA. All the preconditioning and Day 6 to transplant were like what Lori shared. She walked me through the steps right here. The main procedure is fairly standard in many research hospitals. Up to Day 100 differ. No matter what, comeback here. I am 292 days past transplant. A day at a time.
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3 ReactionsHi there,
My transplant is March 6. So coming up. I didn't think too much of losing my hair but I actually really miss it. Would you say it grows back about half an inch a month per normal. I guess I don't really care about the color as I color every 8 weeks to keep the gray away. Was kind of wondering how fast it grows back?
Thx!
Sally
Sally,
Hair is funky. It has taken nearly 10 months for me to have a sold amount of 1 inch hair all over. Both times I lost it i wore my sift beanie caps. Night and day. I did not ever walk around and still do not as my hair grows. With red hair, I had never colored my hair. I have a bit of grey, but mine has color still at 64 as it returns.
You have a great attitude about it!!