Questions for the doctor

These are questions we suggest be discussed with the doctor to provide better understanding of the transplant procedure and its effects on the patient’s life. ¡ Am I a candidate for stem cell transplant? ¡ What does HDT with transplant hope to achieve that can’t be achieved by standard chemotherapy? ¡ What treatment protocols are there at your institution and how do you decide which one is right for me? ¡ Does taking alkylating agents such as melphalan, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide reduce my suitability for a transplant? ¡ How do I select a transplant center? ¡ How many transplants has this center performed for myeloma and what are the success rates? ¡ How long do patients transplanted in your center live after the transplant itself? How does this compare with national averages? ¡ Will you be the doctor who performs the transplant and who are the other members of the team? ¡ Will you be the doctor who provides my ongoing care? ¡ What goes on at a transplant center? ¡ If we decide that transplant is an appropriate treatment for my disease, what can I do now to prepare for the procedure? ¡ When does the transplant procedure begin? ¡ What drugs will be prescribed for use before, during, and after the transplant? What do they do and what are their side effects? ¡ How long is the entire treatment cycle, from preparation for the transplant to recovery? ¡ How long will I have to be in the hospital? How often are my follow-up visits going to be? ¡ How will the transplant procedure affect my ability to function?

How can I expect to feel during and after the transplant? ¡ What side effects of my transplant should I anticipate? ¡ What are the risks of the transplant procedure? Is there a high survival rate for HDT with stem cell transplant?