Can They Do an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant...

[westieluv]

on someone who is not in complete remission?

I have a family member who was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma last summer. He has gone through two rounds of chemo and one round of radiation at a very well-respected cancer treatment center at a large university hospital system in our state. A couple of months ago, he was tested following the last of these treatments to see if they were effective and was told that the chemo did not work as they had hoped it would and he was not in remission at that time and has had no further treatment in the meantime. Last week, he was admitted to the hospital, chemo was started, and they performed an autologous stem cell transplant on him.

I'm confused. I'm no chemo/oncology nurse (I work intermediate cardiac), but it was my understanding that they cannot do an autologous stem cell procedure on someone who still has the cancer in their body. Wouldn't that be like taking cancerous cells out and putting them right back in again?

Can anyone give me any insight into this?

Thanks!

[mappers]

http://www.lymphoma.org/atf/cf/%7B0363CDD6-51B5-427B-BE48-E6AF871ACEC9%7D/MANTLE%20CELL.PDF

If there is no bone marrow involvement (which I don't think is typical with Mantle Cell), I don't know why an autologous wouldn't work.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

These are concerns and questions that need to be discussed with your family members oncologist and/or treatment team to find the best options available for your family member.

As per the site terms of service that were agreed to when signing up " Medical Advice: ALLNURSES.COM, INC or it's members do not offer medical advice. Any requests for such will be taken down. If you have a medical problem, please seek attention from your health care provider. You are not allowed to ask for medical advice related to a health situation that affects you, a family member, or someone you know. "

Good luck. Thread closed.