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Advise please

Hubby just been told he needs stem cell cemo as well all very frightening any help advise would be very welcome, both of us still in shock, need to tell consultant on Wednesday what we want to do any advise on this I would be most grateful
Annabelle

Comments

  • Hi Annabelle, I'm Steve and I'm one of the online community champions here. I'm a transplant patient myself and had a stem cell transplant about five and a half years ago now for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

    I'm really sorry to hear your news regarding your hubby and I expect your minds are a blur at the moment. I remember the news hitting me when I was diagnosed with Leukaemia and I know that it doesn't sink in straight away. You will hopefully get your heads around it soon and when you do the best advice is to go into it positively that it will succeed and it will make your hubby better.

    There are lots of patients and relatives that post on here and nobody would tell you a stem cell transplant is an easy process to get through. It's a hard process and the recovery takes a long time to get back to what you'd regard as normal. Success rates in stem cell transplants are very good though and improving all the time, even in the time that I had mine.

    You don't mention your husbands diagnosis. There is more than likely someone here who has experienced a transplant for the same illness and that might be of help if you can correspond with someone who has been successfully treated?

    We are all unique, so we cope with and respond to treatment differently, so it's difficult to know what to expect. You will find support from many like minded and understanding people here, from patients, relatives and the Anthony Nolan team themselves. You don't need to think that you are alone in this and we will help you through.

    You will have lots of questions in your heads before meeting your hubbys consultant again on Wednesday. The best thing to do is to write them down as you think of them so that you can run through the list with the consultant and make sure you cover them all. The consultants are the ones best placed to decide what will give the best outcome and will have your husbands best interests at heart.

    Please keep in touch and let us know more or ask more questions as you need to.

    Best wishes,

    Steve
  • Thank you for replying to me and your kind words, our world feels like it's been torn apart, plans have had to be cancelled holidays we have saved for cancelled, trying to move house so this has hit us hard.
    We are waiting to see if brother and sister will be a match for stem cell, think it's the cemo and how he may feel that's the biggest worry, awaiting appt for consultant at Addinbrooks to talk us through it and see if family a match, going in to the un none I think it what's frightening !
    Thanks
    Annabel


  • Annabel

    I am so sorry to hear that your husband has been informed that he needs a Stem Cell Transplant.

    In 2015 I was diagnosed with AML and underwent a SCT as part of the process to 'cure' me. I'm pleased to inform you that I am in good health and have no regrets about undergoing the procedure.


    I completely emphasise with how difficult it is when you are informed that a stem cell transplant is required, it's a daunting time for all of you. Addinbrooks has a very good reputation so your husband is in good hands. Has your husband been assigned a Clinical Specialist Nurse? If so, they are absolutely wonderful as they offer helpful advise as well as emotional support. I would strongly advise if you have one to lean on them and ask them anything and everything as they are worth their weight in gold.


    I would also advice that you stay clear of google and draw up a list of questions (as Steve advised) you have and discuss them with your consultant or CNS nurse. I personally found it very helpful to go armed with my questions, often we can go blank due to the stress of the situation.


    I hope that one of your husbands siblings is a match. I would like to reassure you that if that isn't the case Anthony Nolan and the hospital work closely together and tirelessly to find a match. Neither my brother or sister were a match even so a match was found by Anthony Nolan. If memory serves me correctly each sibling is a 25% chance of a match so there is a 50% chance.

    Whilst you both face a long and hard journey, the very fact that your husband has been diagnosed, is receiving treatment and the doctors would like to go ahead with a stem cell transplant is all positive.

    Please do not hesitate to ask more questions on the forum we are here to support and help.

    Best Wishes

    Rachel
  • Thank you for your advise and kind words, Addenbrooks 26 th July will take your advise have written question down. Thank you
    Annabel
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