A question about stem cell transplants.

[seeker]

The daughter of someone I sit on a committee with and know quite well has a teenage daughter who has been being treated foe leuckaemia since Christmas. I heard last night that the chemotherapy has been stopped and she's going to have a stem cell transplant. Could someone give me an indicator of whether this is generally good or bad news? I'd like to know before I see him on Tuesday evening so that I can know how to be with him, if you see what I mean.

My dear friend has a little boy who has Fanconi Anemia. Very rare syndrome type thing. She used to say 'I wish he just had leuckaemia!' so you can tell how serious the situation became.

My friend had another child and when the baby was born the umbilical cord blood was taken and stored. Then the baby was tested to make sure she was a match and didn't have Fanconi Anemia.

Finally, a couple of years ago, my friends DS received the cord blood from his sister. Everything was very succesful and, as far as the doctors can tell, his healthy future is almost assured. In this childs case the stem cell transplant is a real pioneering kind of treatment because the condition he has is very, very rare.

You can tell from this I am not medically knowledgeable but I have tried to tell the story as a layman. For my friend, and her family, it was excellent news.

Could be either, but prob good news. The chemo has blasted the leukaemia cells, but her body is still 'programmed' to make abnormal white blood cells. These originate from stem cells so what will happen is she'll have a mega dose of chemo to nuke her cells then the stem cell transplant will 'replace' her faulty cells with ones that are functioning properly (either from a donor or from herself - they are treated after harvesting to remove disease).

See here for more info.

hth

I've found out that they are using cord blood - does that change things at all?

a good friend of mine had a bone marrow transplant after aplastic anaemia. It was just as madamy describes. She is now doing very well (two years on). The odd thing is she had to have all her childhood illnesses again as your original immune system is just taken out and replaced with a brand new one. I hope it will also help your friend's daughter.

Bump for more info if possible - thanks to those who have replied already.

Have just found this page whilst searching aplastic anaemia, can I ask you a few questions margoandjerry?? My mum was diagnosed with AA last year and a few unsuccessful immuno-suppresive treatments have meant she is now on the waiting list for a bone marrow transplant so just wondering what to expect!
TIA!