Comments on: Minneapolis, Here We Come http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/ The Story of an Elective Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:02:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Chaya http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-128 Chaya Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:14:56 +0000 http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-128 Don: Good question. I was accutely aware of all the people coughing and sneezing around me at the airport. Both of us wore N95 masks all the time, used alcohol gel to clean our hands frequently, ate only the food and water that we brought with us, and stayed away from crowded areas as much as possible. In other words, "social distancing" with a vengence. One other important precaution that we took with the advice / consent of our transplant team: both of us went on prophylactic Tamiflu starting three days prior to the departure date. In addition to this Harvey was still on his usual prophylaxis medications of Bactrim, Valtrex and itraconazole that he was on due to prior Revlimid therapy. It is important that the caregiver as well as the patient takes precautions. Very little is achieved if the patient is protected, only to be infected by a sick caregiver. Don:

Good question. I was accutely aware of all the people coughing and sneezing around me at the airport. Both of us wore N95 masks all the time, used alcohol gel to clean our hands frequently, ate only the food and water that we brought with us, and stayed away from crowded areas as much as possible. In other words, “social distancing” with a vengence.

One other important precaution that we took with the advice / consent of our transplant team: both of us went on prophylactic Tamiflu starting three days prior to the departure date. In addition to this Harvey was still on his usual prophylaxis medications of Bactrim, Valtrex and itraconazole that he was on due to prior Revlimid therapy.

It is important that the caregiver as well as the patient takes precautions. Very little is achieved if the patient is protected, only to be infected by a sick caregiver.

]]> By: David & Marilyn http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-127 David & Marilyn Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:34:12 +0000 http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-127 Hey, it was cold here, too! You missed the S-N-O-W last weekend. It lasted almost a whole day before melting. Hey, it was cold here, too! You missed the S-N-O-W last weekend. It lasted almost a whole day before melting.

]]> By: Alan A http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-123 Alan A Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:06:14 +0000 http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-123 I love you guys! We can't wait to celebrate your successful procedure! I love you guys! We can’t wait to celebrate your successful procedure!

]]> By: Don http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-122 Don Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:18:55 +0000 http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-122 Harvey and Serena, What precautions should a person with a chemo-altered immune system take against colds, flu, etc. when traveling long distances? Best wishes! Don Cambridge, Ohio Harvey and Serena,

What precautions should a person with a chemo-altered immune system take against colds, flu, etc. when traveling long distances?

Best wishes!

Don
Cambridge, Ohio

]]> By: Liz http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-116 Liz Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:03:11 +0000 http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-116 Welcome to Minnesota! I am glad to hear you are getting settled in and I know that you have already experienced in the last few days some of the spectrum of Minnesota weather. Today's snow even took me by surprise. With prayers, anticipation and warm thoughts, Liz St. Paul, MN Welcome to Minnesota! I am glad to hear you are getting settled in and I know that you have already experienced in the last few days some of the spectrum of Minnesota weather. Today’s snow even took me by surprise.
With prayers, anticipation and warm thoughts,

Liz
St. Paul, MN

]]> By: Harvey http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-109 Harvey Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:32:39 +0000 http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-109 Thanks Dan. Mayo is a favorite of mine too. In fact it was Dr. Tim Call's partner, Dr. Neil Kay, who suggested the Revlimid treatment for me. I am sure Tim Call will be well up on the ins and outs of Revlimid treatment for CLL. Keep in mind that in my case the Revlimid was only used for additional shrinkage of the nodes after 5 cycles of fludarabine plus HuMax-CD20 had done their work. It clearly was not the first line of treatment. Good luck to you too. Harvey Thanks Dan. Mayo is a favorite of mine too. In fact it was Dr. Tim Call’s partner, Dr. Neil Kay, who suggested the Revlimid treatment for me. I am sure Tim Call will be well up on the ins and outs of Revlimid treatment for CLL. Keep in mind that in my case the Revlimid was only used for additional shrinkage of the nodes after 5 cycles of fludarabine plus HuMax-CD20 had done their work. It clearly was not the first line of treatment.

Good luck to you too.

Harvey

]]> By: dancath http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-108 dancath Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:28:19 +0000 http://www.journal.clltopics.org/2008/03/15/minneapolis-here-we-come/#comment-108 from dancath in the still frozen northern minn. Good luck Harvey and Serena, I too will be having a sctp. from a matched sister. I visited M.D., The Hutch and Mayo. I chose Mayo. Call it a gut feeling which I might have gotten because it is close to home. Plus there is what I think is a young hotshot doctor named Hogan who myself and my wife felt very comfortable with. He also was a transplant team leader at the Hutch for 3 years. I am impressed with your revlimid remission and will be running it by Dr. Call. Again good good luck you paid your dues and are entitled to some relief. Dan from dancath in the still frozen northern minn.

Good luck Harvey and Serena, I too will be having a sctp. from a matched sister. I visited M.D., The Hutch and Mayo. I chose Mayo. Call it a gut feeling which I might have gotten because it is close to home. Plus there is what I think is a young hotshot doctor named Hogan who myself and my wife felt very comfortable with. He also was a transplant team leader at the Hutch for 3 years. I am impressed with your revlimid remission and will be running it by Dr. Call.

Again good good luck you paid your dues and are entitled to some relief.

Dan

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