Marilyn, I had a stem cell harvest almost two years ago. Basically, you will be put on a drug to stimulate the production of stem cells. Probably called Neupogen or Filigrastim (or somethng like that). It can make you feel pretty crappy--flu-like and/or headaches, but everyone is different. I mainly had a constant headache. You take that as shots for about five days and get your counts checked daily to see if the cells are increasing in your blood. Then you will be hooked up to a machine for a couple of hours a couple days in a row, which takes out your blood, processes out the stem cells and puts it back in. This is fairly painless--just boring sitting there.
I have good veins and was able to use my arm veins exclusively, although some people have to have a catheter for the process. The doctor wanted me to do a catheter but I resisted and the nurse in the apheresis lab looked at my arms and said it would probably work and it did. After you are done, you will probably have to go in for a couple more blood tests to make sure your counts are going back to normal. Some doctors want you to stop Gleevec before you have it done; others let you stay on it. Anyway, that is a pretty basic description. Someone else may be able to add more. I think Jennifer G.has a description of the stem cell harvest process on her website www.cmlsupport.org. Good luck and congratulations on your great results! Jane G. --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "jiggysgirl2003" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Hi Folks, > > I can't say that I've posted to often since being dx in march of 04 > but I have learned an awful lot from all of you,and for this I am > grateful.I am currently taking 400 mg. of Gleevec daily with no side > effects and enjoying and appreciating everyday.This past Friday I got > my results back from Fish and BMB and both stand at THE BIG ZERO. I > am one happy girl, Thank you GOD. My Onc. says that Stem Cell > harvest may be our next step. I would really appreciate what to > expect next as far as this harvest goes. Since we are fast > approaching Fall here in the northeast what better time for the > harvest! So if any one out there has done this stem cell harvest I'd > really like to hear what to expect.Thanks again to all of you for > sharing your great knowledge. > God Bless, > > Marilynn ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/8zSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
