Is the stem cell transplant always reserved for relapse of leukemia?
479823
Yes, stem cell transplant can and usually should be done before relapse.  Your doctor may tell you differently, but it will not hurt to get an opinion from an M.D. who does bone marrow transplants.  then, you can make an informed decision.
135022
So sorry. \n\nI think a good place to start would be to check leukemia or cancer organizations online to see if they list any resources or have news of experimental treatments and contact the doctors/hospitals directly.\n\nHope this helps and you get well soon.
564973
In this situation, marrow is systemic, so radiation therapy is not the way to go.  Chemotherapy is the way to go for systemic cancers, metastases, etc... Irradiation is best used for localized tumors, in which the tumor area can be "walled off" with lead shielding and the tumor can be directly irradiated w/o affecting the surrounding healthy tissues.
66959
Unfortunately cancer can relapse.  Lifestyle, (diet, smoking, chemicals,) may  contribute, but don't think your husband got it just because of this.  Many people live terrible lifestyles and never get cancer while athletes who eat well and exercise have developed cancer.  Researching his particular cancer may give you some ideas of things that could have contributed to his cancer, but the fact is people DO NOT KNOW WHY we get cancer, even though some armchair nutritionists claim they do.  It is probably a very complex combination of things.  \n\nDon't let everyday people give you their opinions about chemo.  Talk to your oncologist and any other medical authorities that you may wish too.  Do research in trustworthy publications.  Research changes in diet, types of chemo, and anything you might feel is relevant.  Your final decision about the type of treatment will be up to you and your husband.  Don't believe people who tell you that doctor's don't want you to know the real cure.  I refuse to believe we live in a world of uncaring and heartless doctors who would hide a "cure all" if they had one!\n\nMy best wishes to both of you! madenthe80s@hotmail.com
644504
It is somewhat common for this disease to recur in a patient, but as long as they have good access to a good doctor, it is not cause for undue concern.\n\nYou should read the wiki on it, and not worry so much:\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrofula\n\nhope it works out.
133211
I'm not sure about treatment, but for info check out the leukemia and lymphoma society. Also, there are several books written on it, so check your local library. I don't remember the names of any of them, but some of them were pretty easy to understand.
9488
Be cautious because there are companies (at least one I've read of) marketing stem cell therapies that have no scientific basis. There's no reason to think that what they are doing will work. This company has been charging something like ten thousand dollars for a treatment and moving from country to country as they have been shut down.\n\nI understand the need for treatments now, but it's sad for a company to take so much money from someone who is very sick by taking advantage of their illness.\n\nWhat has been offered is a transfusion with hematopoietic stem cells, which means blood stem cells. These are cells that have already "decided" to be blood cells, but still have the potential to become different kinds of blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells.\n\nThere are two or three major, major problems with what this company has been offering. One is that they are saying the blood stem cells can cure non-blood related diseases, like diseases that have to do with nerves. The cells they inject have already decided to be blood cells. This is a problem.\n\nThe second problem is that, for the hematopoietic stem cells to graft, meaning to take hold and grow in a recipient, the patient would have to go through a bone marrow transplant, meaning severe treatment to kill their own bone marrow. Otherwise the immune system will kill off the donor stem cells.\n\nThe third problem is that, even if there were some stem cells in the blood that could become nerve or other tissue, if those are just injected, they run the risk of starting other cancers. This point is a little bit tricky, and that's because there is a lot of active research going on in this area. In the idea of using stem cells for therapy, they need to have some instructions (meaning molecular signals) before being injected, otherwise they form tumors. This is not ready for patients yet.\n\nThe other very serious risk is that anyone who signed up for such a treatment is putting their trust in a company that has been put out of business for doing bad science, in the case I'm thinking of. There's no way to know whether they have screened their donors for HIV and other blood borne infectious diseases.\n\nPeople are working very hard to try to come up with better treatments. I know it's not a good answer for anyone who is sick now. Research budgets are being cut at the federal level, and a lot of good labs are having to slow their work or shut down. If you want more progress faster, write your congress person and tell them you support more NIH funding. We're doing our best with your money.
266308
I'm sure you're aware that a leukemoid reaction, which is simply a physiological response secondary to stress/infection is not the same as leukemia, which is a primary blood malignancy. If you do a leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) stain, you'll find that the former is usually associated with a high LAP score, whereas the latter is low.\n\nIn a clinical setting, you could also be able to come to a diagnosis based on the context (e.g., if the patient has hemorrhage, infection, is on steroids, etc., it is likely that it is a leukemoid reaction).
783497
If the operation prolongs life, even by a year or two, then yes. I'd also seek a 3rd and even 4th opinion. Are you the person with the cancer? Whoever it is, I'm deeply sorry. I know what it's like to have that horrible disease in the family. You'll come to the right decision and remember, sometimes miracles do happen. The very best of luck to you and yours
741035
So far, I've only survived it once.  But I heard it always comes back.  When I was at radiation, there was a lady there who was on her 6th NHL recurrence.  I had CHOP/R x 6 and 18 radiations. I wish you all the best.\nHere's the site with the best info:\nhttp://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls\nTake care!
999928
The word should be leukemia. If your uncle has diagnosis of this disease, the first thing the hematologist will do is to assess a procedure called "bone marrow biopsy", the purpose of this simple surgical procedure is to check the patient's varies of white blood cell, lymphocytes, B & T cells, neutrophils, granulocytes, to determine what stage of cells that attacking its own immune system. Then the hematologist can assess chemo therapy or sometimes if the patient 's condition is fit for bone marrow transplant and there are a match for his type, then the cure rate is likely higher. If your uncle is in New York, have health insurance and prefer a spanish-speaking doctor, I think we can help your uncle.
232955
I may be wrong, but I don't think that stem cell transplants have been approved by the FDA, even for clinical trials.  That said, you should be talking to your doctor about this, not random people on the internet!  Your doctor should be able to refer you to a hospital where you can receive appropriate treatment.
1049935
Not currently, however there are treatments and preventative measures. \n\nA cure means you will be completely absolved of the problem forever.  \n\nA treatment is a management. Like chemo can rid a person of cancer for awhile but there's still a chance it will come back. \n\nCancer happens on a cellular level so it's going to be a tough one to find a 'cure' for.  \n\n(Quoted)\nCancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or other methods. The choice of therapy depends upon the location and grade of the tumor and the stage of the disease, as well as the general state of the patient (performance status). A number of experimental cancer treatments are also under development.\n\nComplete removal of the cancer without damage to the rest of the body is the goal of treatment. Sometimes this can be accomplished by surgery, but the propensity of cancers to invade adjacent tissue or to spread to distant sites by microscopic metastasis often limits its effectiveness. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is often limited by toxicity to other tissues in the body. Radiation can also cause damage to normal tissue.\n\nBecause "cancer" refers to a class of diseases, it is unlikely that there will ever be a single "cure for cancer" any more than there will be a single treatment for all infectious diseases
717189
Hi,\n\nFirst you need to register and get screened.  this starts with some forms, questionnaire and health screen then a simple blood test.  Besides Marrow donation,  you can also donate "peripheral" blood cells - such as platelets, stem cells and plasma; these help other types of cancers and blood problems.\n\nThere are a number of "factors" in  the blood that make you a match for someone.  Your information will be put in a large data base and if someone needs a marrow transplant ( blood cancers are a big cause to need one)  you will get called to go in and make a donation if you match a bunch of these factors,  the more factors you have in common the better chance the transplant will be successful.\n\nIn advance;  THANK YOU  it is really scary to need a transplant and they put your info into the 'puter and no matches come out so you wait and hope for a match.  The more people in the database, the more chances that if you need a transplant it will be available.\n\nI am very fortunate that I don't need one yet [have Myeloma];  but if that day comes,  you may be my match.\n\nGood luck,\n\nJewells\n27 month survivor and still going strong
1167526
I can understand your feelings on this. I have a step child who happens to be a leukemia survivor. I feel very passionate about this cause and I work for a company that teams up with the Red Sox and Dana Farber every year to help raise money for the cause. My husband and I donate when we can to what we can and we usually enter all other letters of the like into the circular file .It seems harsh but oh so true. Good Luck  if you pursue this further
389292
bone marrow transplantation is one of the advanced technology to treat cancer
371540
The doctors isolate blood stem cells from the bone marrow.  They treat the cells with a retroviral vector containing the normal gene for the γc interleukin receptor subunit, and return the treated cells to each donor.