We Have a Plan

To All-



As I titled our blog last we Here We Go well now we have the actual plan and timeline.


The process begins on August 31st, with a visit to Stevens in Edmonds for the Hickman Catheter to be inserted into Rets chest. A very simple procedure that will last about an hour, but one that is very critical to the complete process as it is through that catheter that she receives all chemo, meds and also where here stems cells are captured then reintroduced to her at a later date for her recovery.

Following that we visit her doc the next day, Sept. 1st, and begin her chemo treatments that will last for 4 days in a row from the 1st through the 4th. All this takes place at Edmonds which Ret is extremely happy about. Following that Ret will enjoy an 8 day rest period, if you can say enjoy, they call it rest but she'll have to visit the clinic 5 of those 8 days to receive a shot called GCSF. This shot causes the bone marrow to produce white blood cells which helps in possibly eliminating serious infections but in addition stimulates stem cell growth which allows them to be captured at a much higher rate, when she goes in for that procedure.

After that on the 10th we head south to the SCCA/Hutch, to begin a series of tests before the actual stem cell capture. That process is a daily 2 to 4 day process and that all depends on how effective they can be in capturing her stem cells. If those darn shots work maybe 2 instead of 4 that would make us all happy! Another rest period for 2 to 3 weeks, after that, one day heavy blast chemo to hopefully rid her completely of any remaining cancer cells (any and all cells will be destroyed at this time). One day of rest then we are on to the re-introduction of her stem cells. There will be a bit of a waiting period, they say about 28 days to see if the engraftment is successful because things have to be just right!!

That's it in a nut shell. Which I know you are all happy about not having to weed through my babble.

Wish us luck!

Love,
Ret & Jack