Shortly after receiving
his diagnosis and making the decision on the treatment options best
suited for him, Crash expressed his desire to find a way to stay
plugged-in to his family and many friends while he and Gina were
away in Little Rock, Arkansas. Please return to this page often for
updates and developments as they relate to all aspects of Crash's
treatment.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - August 14, 2007.
Crash & Gina have
returned to Little Rock and Crash has begun his 2nd of six (6) rounds
of treatment. In order to gauge the medical progress gained through
Phase I of his extensive treatment; a bone marrow biopsy was performed
today ... and the results proved quite promising indeed. Please review
these encouraging results through the link provided below:
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -
July 1, 2007. The completion of Crash's first (of six) phase of
treatment, at the Multiple Myeloma Institute For Research And Therapy,
culminated with a stem-cell collection (harvest) on July 1, 2007:
*Normal blood stem cells are
collected or "harvested" from the patient or donor before administration
of the melphalan. The harvested normal blood stem cells are returned to
the blood circulation by a process similar to blood transfusion. By a
seeding process, the stem cells pass from the circulation back into the
bone marrow where they divide and grow to repopulate the bone marrow
space. Approximately 36-48 hours after administering the melphalan are
very low and do not harm the new stem cell growth. This whole process
of harvest and re-infusion at the best time is called "stem cell
transplant."
Below please find a series of
photos capturing the
four-hour process of stem cell collection
(harvest).
In characterizing one aspect of his treatment in Little Rock,
Crash relates that there is a lot of, "Hurry up and (then) wait," and we
can see that he is actually sleeping prior to the advent of this complex
medical procedure. Once the sophisticated equipment is calibrated ...
the process begins, and Crash does look relieved as one of his team of
doctors' examines him before being discharged for a 10-day medical break
prior to beginning Phase Two Treatment.
Click on photo(s) below for larger image
In
order to better follow Crash's treatment for multiple myeloma cancer, it
is helpful to understand some of the intrusive symptoms that he may be
experiencing, as well as some fundamental explanations about the
different treatment aspects themselves. All information has been taken
directly from literature published and distributed by the
International Myeloma Foundation.
