I have been having chemo for AML and in 3 weeks time will have a bone marrow transplant at Kings College Hospital in London. I signed my content forms yesterday, and am beyond terrified of how ill the chemo and procedure will make me. My journey so far has been very rough. I spent nearly 4 months in hospital for my first round that turned into a long bout of fighting neutropenic sepsis and other infections along with the rigours of the chemo.
I don't know what I'm hoping for writing this, it's very lonely and frightening. I found the 2nd round of chemo unbearable.
Hi Little-Else and welcome to this corner of the Community although I am always sorry to see folks joining us. I am Mike and I keep an eye on our various Blood Cancer groups.
I don’t have Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) but for some context I was diagnosed way back in 1999 at 43 with a rare (8 in a million) incurable but treatable type of Cutaneous T-Cell NHL……. eventually reaching Stage 4a in late 2013 when a second, also rare (4 in a million) type of aggressive Peripheral T-Cell was then presenting so although my Blood Cancer ‘type’ is different I most definitely appreciate the challenges of this journey rather well…….. and more so as I have had 2 Allo (donor) Stem Cell Transplants (Consultants still tend to use the term Bone Marrow Transplant)
I had my first SCT in June 2014 with the second in Oct 2015……..
My story is rather long and complicated but you can see it all in this link > See my story
But I turn 70 at the end of this year I am 9+ years since my last treatment and living a great life.
The thing about the actual SCT process is that the chemo (I also had radiotherapy) used to kill off your immune system is not that long…… about a week-ish then you get the stem cells…… and your all new immune system grows.
My 2 Allo SCTs were completely different but I now reflect back at a positive life giving period in my life.
We do actually have a dedicated Stem Cell Transplant Group where folks from different blood cancers hang out and support each other on the SCT rollercoaster.
Always around to help more or just to cha
