SCCA Visit Report

Our visit to SCCA yesterday was what we had hoped for. 

The doctor had studied Terry's case and was well aware of the history and the course that we should take. 

 

Keep in mind that MDS is the target for this second transplant that Terry is preparing for, but the transplant should also help with the SLL/CLL.

(For more about MDS check this site)

 

It is also important to know that two transplants are all a person can have, so this is it whether it helps or not, so among all of our concerns, we were questioning the success rate and trying to determine if now is the correct time for this, his last transplant option.

 

Dr. Hansen was informative and seemed concerned with Terry's health.  He had the answers to all of our questions and helped us understand a few things better.  Our understanding is still limited, but we are more sure of the course of action.

 

Here are a few things I noted while talking to the doctor

that help us make our decision:

 

"MDS eventually becomes acute leukemia and does not respond to chemotherapy." 

 

"Cytogenetics is the troubling thing and this disease will progress to a point not treatable." 

 

"Transplant is the only cure for this disorder."

 

 

The strange thing is that the success rate for this particular transplant is only about 50-60%, because it is a second transplant. 

  That doesn't sound so enticing, but because of the problems that will arise without it, the second transplant is the only way to go. 

And, "if not successful there will be other things that can be done after transplant."

 

Doctor Hansen would like the transplant to begin ASAP, but even beginning the paperwork now would take more than a month before the actual transplant took place, which would mean August sometime. 

However - Terry would like to wait (if it wouldn't cause more problems) until October so he could be here to help complete this farming season. 

 

We have scheduled another bone marrow biopsy on Monday and after the tests are read the doctor will contact us to let us know what his thoughts are about waiting.  If the results are similar to the last biopsy done in March we will most likely wait, but if they have rapidly progressed we will begin the process right away.

 

 

We'll let you know when we find out more news. 

 

 

FYI -

 

Terry's first transplant was non-myeloablative - also referred to as a "mini-transplant".

(for more info about non-myeloablative transplants check this site.)

 

 Terry's second transplant will be myeloablative.

(for more info about types of stem cell transplants check this site.)

 

 

image from google search