骨髓增生术综合征幸存者：一种干细胞移植让我缓解了缓解

2015年10月的常规体检改变了我的生活。

医生因我的低白细胞计数而震惊，并希望每月监测它。几个月后，血液测试显示红细胞和血小板的严重下降。

骨髓活检显示，在骨髓中揭示了高比例的干细胞癌症，并且不能成熟成健康的血细胞。

诊断是阶段III骨髓增生异常综合症, a bone marrow disorder that can progress intoacute myeloid leukemia。

The doctors said there was no cure for myelodysplastic syndrome and that my life expectancy without treatment was 13 months. That’s devastating news for a husband, father and grandfather.

在MD安德森寻求Myelodysplastic综合征专业知识

当我当地诊所的医生解释了诊断时，他们表示他们可以减缓疾病的进展，但在MD安德森建议第二次意见。

MD Anderson的专业知识和声誉是众所周知的休斯顿地区居民。他们有MyelodySplastic综合症专家，所以我希望有更好的结果。

对我医生的骨髓增生综合征治疗建议的信心

我于2016年4月在MD Anderson的第一次预约史蒂文博士博士。His background, demeanor and caring approach made me feel confident that I was in the right place.

Dr. Kornblau recommended a临床试验测试A.化疗Lirilumab和氮杂氨酸的组合。他说这可能会给我另外三到五年。

If the cancer didn’t respond well to chemotherapy, I’d have one more option: a stem cell transplant. Dr. Kornblau’s plan provided a new sense of hope, and I was all in.

My initial myelodysplastic syndrome treatment: chemotherapy

这是一场斗争，但我的信仰帮助我接受了我的时间短，脸色对未知的恐惧。

I began treatment in May 2016. The side effects felt like having the flu and a bad hangover at the same time. For a while, the chemotherapy worked. But after a year, tests showed the percentage of myeloblasts in my blood was rising again. This meant the chemotherapy drugs were no longer working.

A stem cell transplant put me in remission

It was time to consider the final option. Dr. Kornblau recommended a干细胞移植, and I was grateful to have one more chance.

我收到了干细胞移植于6月14日,201年7. It required a month-long hospital stay, then two more months living within 15 minutes of MD Anderson for close monitoring.

My care team supported me every step of the way. And, three months after the transplant, they gave me some great news. The transplant was a success! I was in remission and cancer-free.

I will always have a significant chance of relapse. But two years later, I’m still cancer-free. I return to MD Anderson quarterly for doctors’ visits, lab work and bone marrow biopsies.

更多的时间来欣赏生活

去MD安德森是我所做的最好的决定之一。我的干细胞移植给了我更多的时间来欣赏生命之美。

Despite the physical and emotional challenges I’ve faced over the last few years, I consider them the best years of my life.

I still live life one day at a time, but MD Anderson gave me many more to enjoy! And, I wouldn’t trade them for 20 more “normal” years.

在MD Anderson在线预约or by calling 1-877-632-6789