This percentage includes all cancers including skin cancers. We old people get cancers. The risk of leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome is more common, that's the one I worry about. But it is still a low percentage. We all need to get our routine screenings. Mammograms, colonoscopies, yearly skin checks, PSA checks etc. Jeff, I wonder if you could talk to another doctor so you can weigh her options. There is a section on stem cell transplant on Healthtree university please watch this. It is most helpful. Love and prayers to you both 💜👍🙏

Jeff, as it was explained to me, lots of factors need to be considered before going through the SCT. Overall health, response to previous treatments, age, etc. certainly will all be factors. I asked the same exact question you raised and got the same answer from multiple doctors. “The SCT SHOULD put you in a deeper and longer state of remission. I was a 68 year old male in good health, my MM was staged at 2A and I had achieved remission after 5 months of RVD treatment. It was determined I was a good candidate for the transplant. I had the procedure in April of 2018 and it went very well. I was fortunate enough to only spend 2 nights in the hospital and did everything else as an outpatient. It certainly wasn’t pleasant but all in all wasn’t that bad. I did end up with some neuropathy in my feet from the chemo (very irritating but manageable). My decision to have the SCT was a no-brainer (for me) but it certainly wouldn’t be the case for everyone. I hope this helps you. Good luck and God bless, Let me know if You have any questions.

For my husband it was worth it. Without it he would have continued to have lesions that would need to be radiated. Before he could even do stem cell he had to have radiation on his seventh rib (it was painful and fractured his rib), pelvic, and it had eaten a hole in his right femur, resulting in a complete hip replacement.

The doctor is recommending the transplant. Her Myeloma is low risk but it affected her as if it were high risk. Meaning it hit her hard in that it softened and fractured her bones. She had her hip break and needed surgery. Her sternum is all bent and misshapen. Most of her vertebrae have compression fractures. She had kyphoplasty to help her with the back pain. She is 62 years old and is in pretty good health other than the Myeloma. We were told by a doctor at the cancer center that the SCT only holds off the Myeloma a few months longer than maintenance therapy. Also we were told that the SCT has a risk of 10 to 12% of producing a secondary cancer. So listening to all of that I'm thinking why bother. Had you been told anything like what I just explained?

I think it was worth it. I can’t say that it wasn’t really rough. It was for me, but I’ve heard from other people that it wasn’t too bad for them. However, I think it really helped keep my MM under control for a while. I’m not going to do it again even if it’s suggested, but I am glad I did the first one.