Hi everyone!! No doubt you have all been wondering what is happening with the Jodster and her transplant. Well, here's the scoop. Yesterday, Greg and I again saw my transplant doctor to discuss a new transplant proposal. Due to the risks involved in my treatment/past treatment and my possible sensitivity to radiation - we've been offered a less aggressive Allogeneic Transplant.
The highest range that the most aggressive transplant is performed goes to 50 years of age. When I was first diagnosed I was only 35. I am now 43 - however, we suspect that my right leg issues are due to delayed radiotherapy toxicity from emergency radiotherapy in 2006 (which is extremely rare for most levels of radiotherapy). Having medium/average strength of an allogeneic transplant means no radiotherapy and a change in chemotherapy treatment.
My now large transplant team sit around a boardroom table every Monday, and discuss my ever on-going & dramatic latest medical dilemma and figure out what to do with me. Often many intelligent brains make for better decisions.
Once I have had 7 doses of chemotherapy as an in-patient, the donor stem cells from my international donor will be injected into me to engraft and gradually grow into my new bone marrow. However, the donor's T-Cells will not have been wiped out by the chemo that I had prior to injection and therefore will start fighting any left-over disease and restore my bone marrow to healthy status. This is the plan anyway.
We were more than happy to accept this, coupled with more intense therapy and assistance to keep me both emotionally & mentally stable through the transplant, which will still be sufficiently strong enough to cure me. Even though it will be a softer transplant, I may still have a rough road ahead. When my doctor told us of the new offer on the table, I felt 100% more at ease about the new treatment plan.
Of course, any transplant is going to be rough to deal with and endure rejection of the new cells, but all in all, I think both my transplant team (10+ doctors & staff) are convinced that this is a better way forward with less risks associated. In fact, my doctor suggested that according to the progressing table of research, it seems more & more likely that in 10 years’ time, FBI (Full body irradiation) will no longer be used as standard. Accordingly, it does not seem to offer much more protection, as opposed to the proposed milder transplant.
At this stage, it looks like we will start 'work-up' testing x 3 days in mid-November and have the transplant by the end of November. However, my doctors have indicated that they need to get me into hospital before the G20 summit, being held in Brisbane City in mid-November and have the cells arrive in Brisbane before the world's 20 most powerful leaders arrive in Brisbane. More drama!!
There has to be absolutely no hold-up's with my new cell's making it to me from my donor/his country to me (in hospital) within 72 hours of being harvested from him. So, at this stage, it looks like we'll be having a G20 transplant and a Christmas/New Year recovery. However, as with all treatment, things change rapidly in this business and medical arrangements are rarely ever firm - but, often fluid and forever changing.
We have also been offered the opportunity to participate in a randomized trial conducted by a group of research scientists looking at the role of an experimental medication to eliminate/minimize the effects and damage caused by GVHD (Graft vs. Host Disease) post-transplant.
GVHD is a disease that almost certainly comes after engraftment of my new stem cells into my body and into new bone marrow, saving my life (of course) but, ultimately introducing another person’s body part into me, which can cause rejection of the stem cells. This is even with a 10/10 match.
Doctors look for this disease to find indication of the stem cell’s working in the host body – a little GVHD is OK and can materialise in several forms. In some cases, GVHD can be life threatening and this is why I am closely watched and monitored post-transplant.
In the trial, I will either get an active experimental drug or a placebo. My doctors will not know which one I am getting – only the researchers. I am hoping I will get the magic drug, however – this is why randomized trials are so important for the future of medical research and why my participation may help save the lives of some of our kids and grandkids.
We get quite a lot of detail from our doctors and as you can imagine – it’s not so nice to continue going over the not so nice bits, which are all on the internet anyway. We are aware that this is a difficult process to read about. So, we try to communicate in a positive manor.
Through this whole amazing process – I am forever grateful to God, my donor, my doctors/hospital, my church, my prayer warriors, my friends and most importantly: my family.
On a lighter note, most of my doctors are female and I had originally wanted a female transplant doctor, however we stipulated that as long as my young male transplant doctor wore a pink tutu and a couple of roses in his hair AND I can have access to lots of females that I can cry with - we'd be OK with that arrangement. I have also asked him to prepare himself with lots of daggy dad jokes and we will be just fine.
Thank you all for your continuing support, prayers and love. When I have new firmer dates, I will advise. Jodster xx
Thank you for reading,
Much Love,
Jodie & The Guerrero Family xx
