Treatment timeline

Here is a little more detail on what the schedule is for the next month or so:

-Day 1 began on the first day of chemo (November 5th) and lasted for 4 days.

-Day 6 (Nov. 10) She received a Newlasta shot. (I have no idea how to spell this medical stuff. I resort back to kindergarten and sound things out) This particular shot helps to push the stem cells out of the bone marrow and into the blood stream so that the cells can be harvested. It used to be quite a procedure to harvest the cells, but now they can gather them through the blood.

-Around day 11-13 they will begin to harvest the cells. This could take up to 3 or 4 days. They gather millions of cells, preserve and freeze them, so they won't ever have to do any harvesting again. These cells can be used for many years.

-Day 13 she will receive another Newlasta shot.

After the cells are successfully harvested, Becki will have 2 weeks of recovery.

-Then they start more chemo. The first day of this chemo they label as Day negative 4 (the countdown to the transplant). It is administered at Huntsman on Day -4 and Day -1. This is more of a hardcore chemo that should make her feel super crappy.

-Then she receives her first transplant. It seems to be a fairly easy procedure. They just give her back some of her harvested cells.

The 7 days after the transplant are said to be the worst days. We don't know quite what to expect, but that it will be awful.

Once the doctor has has seen that she has engrafted (which usually takes 10-12 days after the transplant) she gets 2 months off for recovery.

-Then we start the hardcore chemo again, followed by a second transplant.

We will try to keep this updated as much as possible as to her responses and any changes in her treatment.

In the meantime, please keep her in your prayers. She is absolutely amazed at how much love, warmth, and caring has exuded from everyone. Thank you!