My partner has been in hospital now since May after the lymphoma returned it has wrapped itself in and around the sciatic nerve in his right leg. We are awaiting high dose chemo and a stem cell transplant after we were told his lymphoma had returned and it was a more aggressive strain.
For those of you out there who are awaiting a stem cell transplant and undergoing high dose chemo, ask your consultant about anything you are not sure of, ask them to explain each stage of your transplant as well as each step of your treatment, so you know what the side effects are likely to be of all the treatment you are to be given.
With High dose chemo and a stem cell transplant, you are given an intensive course of chemo once the chemo has worked it's magic, growth factor drugs are given which help produce and release extra stem cells from your bone marrow, this is called 'harvesting' [preparing for removal and storage of stem cells]. The drugs will be given through a 'Hickman Line' which will be placed in your chest. This is much easier way to have drugs administered and blood samples removed.
Once the stem cells are ready for removal you will be placed on a machine similar to a dialysis machine [sounds a bit like a twin tub washer I thought!] we called it the 'tardis' time machine after reading that recent research trials have concluded that life expectancy can be prolonged by up to 2 - 5years following an autologous stem cell transplant.
The stem cells are removed from extracted blood and seperated along with platelets and frozen for later transplantation back into the body, after the last cycle of the high dose chemo.
At some point during the harvesting, when your blood count drops below a certain level, you will become 'neutropenic' [your immune system will deplete and you will be susceptible to infection] you will need to follow a 'neutropenic diet' for which you will be informed what foods are not allowed ie nuts, cream, runny eggs, yoghurt, fresh fruit and veg, rare meats etc.- ask for a diet sheet if you are not given one.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY AT ALL TIMES before entering the ward .
Limit visitors and avoid visiting if you have cold or flu like symptoms or tummy bugs.
Dry mouth and mouth sores are common - pineapple is reportedly good for your mouth. Diarrohea is also a common side effect of the drugs and my partner also developed piles
I now take sunday roast dinner in, in a jumbo flask for him as a treat each week [ this must be piping hot when packed and served to the patient within the hour] he liked the prepacked fruit pots from the tesco late shops - [no disrespect to the NHS but their food is awful some days] and when undergoimg chemo you lose your sense of taste.
Pre packed ice cream is allowed - I regularly take us both a white magnum in on an evening. We get out the portable dvd player and sit watching a movie and huddle up, just like being at home.
Still awaiting the Stem cell transplant after the machine broke down and needed to be replaced then my partner developed a bug and the transplant had to be stopped.
We were told that if the bug got into the stem cells that were to be transplanted, his immune system would be too low to fight it off and so it has been postponed till the bug has cleared up. With a bit of luck he may be able to go home until the next harvesting session.
