When will I know if my Transplant is Successful?

Generally speaking, the chance for success is dependent on your disease.  T-cell lymphoma is fairly rare, and additionally I have a rare form of it.  Because not many in my category have had a transplant, there is not much data on it, but the data that exists indicates my long-term success rate is low (20-25%).  I hope to be among that population, of course.  Some other diseases have far higher chances for success with a transplant.

Milestone tests are generally scheduled at the following post-transplant dates: thirty days, three months, six months, one year, two years, and five years.  These test periods are separate from any on-going tests and evaluations your oncologist or primary care physician may do.  Both of these doctors should receive copies of all test data from the transplant team, and these entities should work closely together in the follow-up observation and treatment of your disease.

The goal of the transplant is to stop any restaging of your disease.  If you reach the 2-year milestone without a restaging, your team will begin to whisper of a cure.  Only upon successfully reaching the 5-year milestone will they become cautiously optimistic.  It’s a long waiting game, unfortunately, and all the more reason to have a strategy that deals with emotional anxiety as well as physical pain as you work your way through it.  My strategy is covered in the Pain Management and PAG pages.