BLOG 51
21 November 2014
TRANSPLANT UPDATE (one week away!!)
When I leave hospital in early to mid January, I'll be a new person with a new immune system and free from two cancer's - we are believing I'll be cured, I will leave with twenty-two medications to keep my body healthy and keep me free from rejection complications (a disease called GVHD). I will have new DNA (my own in my regular cells and that of my donor in my bone marrow) and a new blood type (from O+ positive to A+ positive). How incredible is that? I will also have a new hero, my donor. He is a 30 year old mystery man from overseas and my life is currently in his hands. Incredible to think that I will be saved by a complete stranger in one of the most unselfish acts of love, kindness and charity that one could be blessed to receive. I will have two birthdays, my original birthday - when I was born on 6th August, 1971 and my new birthday and new lease on life - when I was given a 2nd chance at life, which should be 06th December, 2014.
In seven days (28th November), I will be in hospital with a hickman's line implanted and ready for my first 'transplant associated' dose of chemotherapy (29th November). I could be admitted for up to 6 weeks and also will be in home care with family for up to 2 months. Although I have had a lot of chemo in my short life, the last time I had systemic chemotherapy was in 2009 (the same drug - called Fludarabine) for relapsed Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
So, the last chemo doses worked really well and gave me five years of cancer free life. Then MDS (Myleodysplasia [Type-RCMD] or pre-leukaemia) arrived in July this year, due to my former treatment for NHL, extremely rare and with only one curative treatment in existence (Allogeneic Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant). MDS is dangerous and if we don't treat it - it will quickly become AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). The MDS was caused by the treatment I had for NHL. Plus the emergency radiotherapy I had in 2006 as part of my original NHL treatment also caused a a complex mobility issue, to do with scaring.
The original Lymphoma was caused by a combination of Glandular Fever and Epstein-Barr Virus, possibly in my childhood or my early adulthood. There was absolutely nothing I could have done to have stopped both cancers, as most people who have either Glandular Fever or Epstein-Barr Virus, do not go on to develop Lymphoma or another blood cancer.
In August this year, I had an injection chemo called Vidaza (a subcutaneous 'sub-cut' delivery x seven), which gave me sixty-three days of sweet relief from intense thigh & hip bone pain. Recently, this pain returned and now my blood counts have started to decrease, a sign that the MDS is fighting to take over and trying to take me down with it.
My doctors and I have been discussing this pain, as it is not common - however, I've likened it to the 'light saber' fights in the Star Wars movie between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader - between the light & dark side. My bone marrow stem cells, mostly located in my thighs and hips are fighting with little light sabers and every bit of strength they have against the MDS cell's which are trying to crowd out and destroy my blood making cells - hence the reason my blood counts are going down. Recent MRI & PET (cancer cell) scans of my turso, show 'uptake' in my marrow - which means a 'crowding out' of my regular blood making cells with MDS (cancer cells).
Since July, this year, I've needed five pain medications to feel pain free, all at once. I must take these medications every seven hours to stay on top of the pain (apart from my sixty-three days of no pain, post Vidaza chemo).
So, I am really looking forward to my chemo - not many people say they are looking forward to chemo, but when it gives you pain relief and kills cancer cells, it's great and my medical staff will handle the other symptoms that come with the chemo, like nausea/vomiting. When I am admitted and start transplant next Friday - although I am nervous about this - I will thank and remain forever grateful to my supporters (family and friends) doctors, medical team, transplant team and my overseas male donor for saving my life and am looking forward to chemo day, as I have had enough of this intense bone pain from the MDS. Not long now, before my life will change forever
Thank you for reading,
Much Love,
Jodie & The Guerrero Family xx