My Stem Cell TransplantTommy Ryan
May 2008
For Sweetwater Elementary’s 5th Grade Class
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
Video
What are Stem Cells
http://www.exploratorium.edu/imaging_st
ation/research/stem_cells/story_stem_cel
ls1.php
Properties of Stem Cells
Capable of dividing and renewing
themselves for long periods
Can become bone, muscle, cartilage and
other specialized types of cells,
Potential to treat many diseases, including
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes and
cancer.
Four Types of Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells - Stem cells
taken from human embryos
Fetal stem cells- Stem cells taken from
aborted fetal tissue
Umbilical stem cells - Stem cells take
from umbilical cords
Adult stem cells - Stem cells taken
from adult tissue
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
Alleogeneic Stem Cell Transplant
◦ If your Stem Cells are damaged you can
replace your Stem Cells with someone else’s
Stem Cells
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
◦ If you need very high doses of chemo to
remove aggressive cancers, you can give back
your own Stem Cells to rescue yourself after
high dose chemo kills your stem cells with
your own Stem Cells
Video
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
http://www.cancercenter.com/video/treat
ments-technology/stem-cell-
transplants/autologous
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
Treats the following Cancers
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Leukemia
Multiple myeloma
Aplastic anemia
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
Timeline
Diagnosis
◦ 10/17/06 – Biopsy shows cancer
◦ 11/15/06 – Got second opinion at MDACC
◦ 11/27/06 – Choose treatment plan ICE for Salvage Chemo
Mini BEAM for High Dose Chemo
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
Salvage Treatment
◦ 12/4/06 – First day of Salvage Chemo (ICE in Atlanta)
◦ 12/18/06 – Second round of Salvage Chemo (ICE in Atlanta)
Collect Cells
◦ 1/2/07 – At Houston for workup before Mobilization Chemo
◦ 1/6/07 – 1/9/07 –Mobilization Chemo (Houston)
◦ 1/19/07 – Apheresis (only needed one day of collecting) (Houston)
◦ 1/24/07 – Returned to Atlanta (resting before High Dose Chemo)
Timeline
High Dose Chemo◦ 2/2/07 – Arrived in Houston (first day renting the
apartment; setup with Linda)
◦ 2/3/07 – Checked into the Hospital for High Dose Chemo (Day -6)
◦ 2/8/07 – Last day of chemo before receiving Stem Cells (Melphalan) (Day -1)
Stem Cell Rescue◦ 2/9/07 – My new birth day – received Stem Cells (Day
0)
◦ 2/19/07 – Discharged from the hospital (typically takes 14 days; I went 10) (Day +10)
◦ 3/9/07 – Allowed to return back to Atlanta (checked out of apartment) (Day +28)
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
The Journey Begins…
“Researching my treatment at MD Anderson in Houston TX”
Treatment in Houston TX
“Traveled to Houston TX for my Stem Cell Transplant”
Bald Guy with a Laptop
“Chemo is not going to stop me from working”
Two Bald Guys Having Lunch
“Dad decided that he would join the cool bald dudes club.”
Central Line
“That thing is going into to my vain?”
Harvesting Cells
“I wonder who is going to win the baseball game…”
Daily Agenda
“Even when you are sick you have chores to do.”
Getting my Chemo Drugs
“That is a lot of bags of stuff you are pumping into me…”
Walking the Loop
“They did not call me speedy for nothing”
During Treatment
“When you are bald you get to wear cool bandanas”
Deanna Donating Blood
“Deanna really is full of herself”
Having Fun
“Deanna’s custom face mask designs”
Mr. and Mrs. Mask
“The things you do when you have extra time on your hands”
Getting Stem Cells
“What is that smell… cream corn?”
My Stem Cell Birthday – 2/9/07
“Nothing better than having two birthdays a year!”
Having fun with my Son
“Boy that chemo was rough on my teeth… glad that it is time to leave the hospital.”
Family Support
Family Support
Back Home
“Nothing better than being welcomed back home with a Poster, Balloons, and
a snickers bar.”
Hair Coming Back
“Had straight hair before… where did these curls come from?”
Three Month Checkup
“I was looking forward to taking this picture”
Survivor’s Day
“Returning back to MDACC to visit my friends that I made during treatment.”
Remember… Don’t EVER give up!
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
Resources
My Blog During Cancer Treatment -
http://blogs.threewill.com/tommyryan/myc
ancerjourney
Video on What are Stem Cells
Video on Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
Overview
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplants
◦ What are Stem Cells?
◦ What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
◦ Why a Stem Cell Transplant?
My Stem Cell Transplant
◦ Timeline
◦ Photo Storyline
Resources
Questions?
Questions?