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Anyone over 60 made a full recovery?
Hi, I'm paul, thank you for accepting me to the forum. I have recently been diagnosed with myelofibrosis and am currently being tested for a stem cell transplant, I am almost 62 years old and just wondered if anyone my age has gone through this and made a full recovery?
Best Answer
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Hi Rachel, thank you for your response and kind words, unfortunately I have received a letter this morning to say it is highly unlikely I will be considered for the transplant due to my history of smoking and the effect on my lungs. However they are going to continue with the tests so I will live in hope.
Kind regards
Paul
Answers
It's great that you've reached out for some peer support with this, I'm sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis, I'm sure there has been a lot of information for you to digest and come to terms with.
I am Lead Nurse at Anthony Nolan so my response is not from the perspective of someone who has been through a stem cell transplant but I have looked after many individuals who have.
I assume you are relatively fit (other than your new myelofibrosis diagnosis) as Stem Cell Transplant would only be considered if the haematology team felt you were able to tolerate the treatment. I've looked after many people of your age and older who have tolerated the treatment well and gone on to a good recovery, returning to a similar quality of life to that prior to their diagnosis. On occasion, longer term side effects or complications can impact recovery.
As you'll appreciate from this-no 2 peoples experience will be the same, for a number of reasons. Stem cell transplant is an intensive treatment and there can be a prolonged period of recovery, beyond the initial treatment in hospital. Fatigue can be debilitating initially but the transplant nurses and wider team will support you with managing nutrition and activity to help minimise the fatigue impact.
Having a good support system around you is helpful for getting to and from hospital appointments- there will be a lot, both before and after transplant, also helping with household tasks, shopping etc, is all very helpful as you come out of hospital and recover.
If you'd like the opportunity to talk further about what to expect you'd be welcome to call our helpline on 0303 303 0303 and speak to myself or one of our team. The helpline is open 9-5 Monday to Friday.
Wishing you well as you move through the treatment pathway.
Rachel
Lead Nurse