Bit poo starting this week as it's the next stage of prep for my upcoming stem cell harvest.
I spent a not very joyous 4 hours at King's Hospital last Wed, a bit like Crystal Maze, trying to work out where each of the 9 (!) different places I had to get to, was, and what needed doing at each one. And spotting the mistakes in the timings for jabs sheet I was given – cheers for not getting that rather important bit right!
But at least it seems that the ECG, blood tests and chest x-ray were fine, and I have now been consented for the procedure. BUPA has also said they will pay, having thrown a spanner in the works – turns out it was something random about not having an up to date contract with Kings, cock all to do with me or the procedure..
And I have now seen the tiny Apheresis unit (look that one up – all about separating blood components), where bloody annoyingly no-one can have any visitors still post-COVID. So the harvest will be me running (well, tied to a chair for 4-5 hours, then hanging around) solo..
The process now is 2 jabs (delivered by Mr H into my stomach) of a growth hormone called GCSF for four days in a row – this Thurs through to Sunday. Their job is to stimulate the release of stem cells out of the bone marrow and into my blood, such that by Sunday I should be full of the little fellas, hopefully. I then have to schlep to Kings for an additional super jab of Plerixafor – officially a 'chemokine receptor antagonist' – whaaaat? – or in laymans speak, a mega booster of stem cells.
They are concerned that as I've had chemo solidly for the last 7 years (f*ck my old boots), I may not make any/many stem cells, so will need this too. And I've had to miss the first chemo cycle fo the year as well, to try and boost my blood a tad.
By this point I will be feeling pretty sore with bone pain as I will be full of stem cells – here's hoping anyway.
On Mon 16th I then turn up at 8.30am to have a blood test so they can do an early check as to whether there are stem cells showing up – if not, the whole thing is off and I'm a bit buggered as I would not be able to have a 3rd stem cell transplant when I next need one.
But hopefully, they will go ahead with 4-5 hours on the blood circulating machine (you can't go for a wee, so I'll not be risking any cups of tea till its all over) and then a couple of hours' hanging around till they have done the official count. If it's amazing, then no day 2 (they don't think this is likely!) If it's a decent amount, then another Plerixafor jab and I'll be back for a second day on the Tuesday.
And with fingers massively crossed that the stem cells pour out beautifully and add up to 2 million, the magic figure for a transplant. And that they are raring to be frozen, with any luck for a few years still. I have 2 lots already on ice, but the original ones are now 13 years old so not the best and even the second lot are already 5 years old. They look like slabs of frozen salmon but have more life giving properties..
There's no transplant planned – thank God, scares the hell out of me – so this is all about making sure that we get some decent qualiity stem cells on ice while I am still in remission and there are fewer cancer cells in my blood.
I will be hoping for good numbers and that this does give me that chance of a 3rd stem cell transplant somewhere down the line. Always better to have an option in the bag (and liquid nitrogen storage tank) than not.
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