When you have a stem cell transplant, they give you a high dose, lethal chemo drug called Melphalan the first day, then your stem cells the next day.
The Melphalan destroys your bone marrow so your body has no way to make its own blood. It takes 5 days for it to completely kill off the bone marrow.
It takes about 10 days for the stem cells to migrate through your blood stream to your large bones (hips, sternum) and regenerate bone marrow and begin making new blood cells.
The day you get your stem cells is referred to as your “re-birthday” or “new birthday”. Your life is taken away and then given back to you by infusing your stem cells.
Today is my 5th re-birthday. I was told that if I took maintenance chemotherapy (a pill a day) after my transplant, I could get 5 years of remission. (Or more.) It has been a tough road, some days. Side effects of the chemo are severe for me...but it works.
Here I am, 5 years later and I am still killing it!! 🙂
Happy Birthday to me!!
