We get the schedule

We got a packet of information from the transplant coordinator. So we now have a schedule for the coming events.

Feb 20 is the "restaging". The following is all on one day:
Meet with coordinator Vicki.
Pulmonary Function Test
CT of sinus
Chest X-ray
Echocardiogram
Skeletal Survey (X-rays of mulitiple bones)
Bone Marrow Biopsy
Lab work and urine test
EKG

This time the dreaded bone marrow biopsy will be done with IV sedation -- yea! Last time there was no sedation and Doug was not looking forward to having another one. This will be a long day of testing, but we do get to go home afterward.

We have to be back in Denver on 3-5-09 at 8:00 am for (another) history and physical and signing of consent forms with Dr. Matous. Then the next day Doug gets the "triple lumen catheter placement" in his chest (also known as a "port"). This is done surgically but is a relatively simple outpatient procedure.

We will be in Denver from 3-5-09 to 3-18-09. It looks like this is the time period when they give drugs to mobilize the stem cells for collection, and the actual collection. We also will have the mandatory patient and caregiver class. Then we go back home, returning on 3-26-09 for the high dose chemo and subsequent stem cell transplant. We'll have to stay in Denver near the clinic for at least 30 days this time -- until Doug's immune system recovers sufficiently.

The stem cell transplant is done via the port, not surgically. Doug is having an "autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant", using his own cells. You can click on the "Links of Interest" at the top right for more detailed information.

For now we are going to enjoy the next few days at home. The grandkids are coming tomorrow for a quick visit -- that is excitement of a different sort!