Her Own Words

From my mother:

We have learned good news today. Based on the recent tests (CT, PET, bone marrow, lumbar puncture) I am in remission, so I am cleared for the autologous stem cell transplant. With the second harvest recently, I have plenty of stem cells, with many to spare for the future. We decided to do a research arm of the transplant, with I-131-labeled CD20 antibodies replacing the total body irradiation, followed by the usual “conditioning” chemo, and then the stem cell infusion. My therapeutic radioactive dose is scheduled for 6/25, with a tentative stem cell infusion on 7/9 – depending on a safe radiation level by that date. I will be in radiation isolation for the first 10-12 days (= jail), and then transferred to the transplant floor, with an expected total hospital stay of 5 weeks or so (starting from 6/25).

I will spend the next two weeks with preparations, including a test dose of the radioactive antibody, and multiple scans, to calculate the safe dose for me. I thank you all for your support; please keep us in your prayers in the next few weeks.