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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 4 August 2017

Tarak Sarkar shares his experience of Stem Cell Therapy and how he managed to handle it.

Please tell us a bit about your condition 

In April 2016, my CT guided biopsy revealed that my previously Low grade Follicular Lymphoma had got transformed into higher grade DLBCL. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL or DLBL) is a cancer of B cells, a type of white blood cell responsible for producing antibodies.

When were you diagnosed?

I was diagnosed with Low grade Follicular Lymphoma which was detected sometime in June 2014. I had taken 5 Chemos (B+R) & 2 Maintenance (R) till July 2015 at Tata Medical Centre (Kolkata). Scan showed good recovery.

When were you advised to go for Stem Cell Therapy?

In November 2016, I was advised by Tata Medical Centre (Kolkata) that I should try Stem cell transplant (SCT) for a cure of longer duration

How were you briefed about the SCT treatment?

I was told that Stem cells will be harvested from my blood. Only if sufficient stem cell can be collected, will they proceed with the treatment. The high dose chemo called BEAM will be administered in 7 days. Then stem cell will be infused in my body. Then blood counts will be monitored and blood given as and when needed. Total duration of stay at the Hospital may be about a month. Risk involved in this case is 5 per cent (mortality) and success rate is usually pegged at 30-40 per cent.

Tell us a bit about how your experience of the Stem Cell treatment.

I was admitted on 12th Dec 2016 for Stem cell transplant. The first 7 days was intensive chemotherapy. 8th & 9th day was thawing of my stem cells into my body. From 10th day onwards my health deteriorated. All organs like, lung, heart, kidney started giving trouble. I was shifted to an ICU in a critical condition. After 2 days of close monitoring I started recovering. I was again sent back to the SCT unit.

What was it like when you were finally released?

Finally I was released on 9th Jan 2017 from the hospital, with a long list of dos & don’ts. First 3 months my recovery was good. Weakness was so much that it was difficult for me to walk up to the dining table from the bedroom. From 4th month onwards, I had a dry cough for which I consulted the doctors.

Please share your experiences post-Stem Cell treatment.

I planned for a trip to Uttarakhand for 7 days after due check up with Tata Medical Centre (Kolkata). Doctors there consented for the trip. Upto Gangotri I was alright except for the cough. Thereafter, I started feeling feverish. By then the dry cough had turned into bit of a breathing difficulty. Some how I finished the trip, returned to Kolkata and found rash all over my body.

I rushed to the emergency of Tata Medical Centre (Kolkata). They immediately admitted me as I had contracted Chicken Pox and some lung infection. Now 21 days have passed and I am somewhat ok. Actually post Stem cell transplant body immunity remains very low. So one is very much susceptible to any infection specially of the lung. So one has to be a bit careful for 1 year after the Stem Cell treatment.

What was the list of dos and dont's from the hospital after stem cell transplant?

For any transplant a sterile environment is the prime concern.

I understand that during the stem cell treatment, you were cut off from the rest of the world with just one family member for company? How was that experience?

Quite bad. But it is a mind game. If you think you can’t fight it out then better avoid it.

Is it normal for other organs to start giving trouble during the process, or was it just in your case?

No case is identical to the other. Hence, reaction, recovery, side effects are all different.

What is your present condition?

I have some check up, etc due in October 2017, which will reveal how much cured I am.

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