What to expect?
During the harvest, I think it's
your calcium levels, can get out of whack. If they do you
will start to feel tingling in your lips or possibly
somewhere else. You tell your nurse and she will give you some
Tums to chew on which quickly set things right.
You will have a nurse with you constantly while harvesting
cells. You're pretty much confined to the bed you're in
for the duration because you are hooked up to the machine, so
bring with you something to read, a computer or someone to chat
with. Post harvest there really is nothing. Your cells will be
either frozen there or sent somewhere to be frozen.
~ source: Lay comment from Pooh-Bah
How long can
stem cells be stored?
"After
processing, PBSC are cryopreserved for later infusion.
Controlled-rate freezing with temperature curve monitoring is
required. Until required for infusion, products are stored in
the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen. Usually the storage period
is weeks to months; however, stem cell products have provided
adequate engraftment when infused 10 years after
cryopreservation.
After
thawing, PBSC again are checked for viability. Because granulocytes
do not survive cryopreservation, loss of this cell
fraction from the collection is expected. To allow survival
during freezing and thawing, cells are placed in a medium
containing 7.5-10% dimethyl sulfoxide.
Because cells lose
viability over a short period in this medium, infusing the cells
immediately after thawing is important."
Source: emedicine
What is the
difference between a bone marrow and stem cell transplant?
"Stem cells are a self-renewing population of cells that
reside in the bone marrow, but can be found in blood in other
parts of the body (peripheral stem cells) in certain
circumstances. It can also be found in cord blood. Because bone
marrow was the original stem cell source since the 1960s,
“bone marrow transplant” is the term most
often used, but it is the stem cells taken from the bone marrow
and other blood sources that is actually transplanted."
Source: Stjude.org
Because bone marrow was the original stem cell source
since the 1960s, “bone marrow transplant”
is the term most often used, but it is the stem cells taken from
the bone marrow and other blood sources that is actually
transplanted. (Lay comment)
What is
portability?
Although preferred to be stored at the center of eventual
transplant they are fully portable. It was not a consideration
as they transport stored cells from center to center all the
time as a standard practice.
~ Source: RB (Lay comment)
Insurance
coverage?
For stem cell
transplant, the harvesting portion will be covered as part of
the package. Otherwise your doctor will have to submit the
rationale to the provider: that it is reasonable and/or there's
a pressing need. Just banking for a relapse by itself probably
will not be compelling enough with most insurance companies.
Source: ~ KS & RB (lay comment)
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