Lots of pre testing. The blood will be checked for everything. Your heart will be checked, EKG, echo. Your breathing will be checked. Bring in as much air as possible and get it all out into a machine. Of course your stem cells will be harvested and frozen. That will be done over 6 or 7 hours on the Apherisis machine (no pain). In my case I had to give myself 2 injections of Ziexstenzo 2 days before to stimulate the cells. Then the day you get Melphalan you will chew on ice cubes to prevent mouth sores. I went home that night but had to report back to the “solitary confinement” ward for 2 weeks the next morning. Compared to others I was lucky. Never vomited. No nausea. Just light headed, dizzy, weakened. Your white blood cells will go to zero in about 6 days. It’s a reboot for the body. Your hair will fall out in clumps so get the nurses to shave your head. It makes life easier. The whole time your urine and stool is collected and analyzed. Try to get a shower every day and you must walk the halls (with a mask) for exercise. You are constantly monitored and awakened every morning at 5am for bloodwork. Your appetite will suffer as everything tastes gross. Vanilla Ensure became my friend. My ASCT ended June 7, 2023 and I still haven’t reached remission so I’m scheduled for another one Feb 2024. The first so nice we’re doing it twice! My doctor said I handled it well for a 72 year old. And my mindset went into this trying to be a “model patient.” When walking the halls I liked when the nurses would say, “you go Mr. Parker!” Ego, lol.

Nice job Mark on ASCT summary. I will just add diarrhea for me was a nightmare. Its a well known side effect.

Excellent summary of SCT. Your synopsis brought back many unpleasant memories but the procedure is a very positive step in dealing with Myeloma. I was 70 years old when I went through and would never want to go through again.