Edward (Ted) Pancia Ted Pancia

I have multiple myeloma, which is a type of blood cancer.  The way I found this out was by having a back ache which started in March 2016.  The back problem kept getting worse until I found out I had a collapse vertabre in my lower back.  This led to an MRI which  showed that I had tumors in my spine.  I was referred to an Oncologists that determined I had multiple myeloma.  I went through radiation for two weeks to destory the tumors in my spine and had surgery to repair the collapse vertabre.  The next step was to start chemo therapy which would put the cancer in remission so that I could go through stem cell replacement.  The stem cell replacement would put the cancer in remission for a longer period pf time.  The chemo has worked and I am getting ready for my stem cell replacement which starts on June 16, 2017.  They use your own stem cells for this process so the first step is to increase the productiion of your stem cells and collect enough for the transplant.  This first step is done as an out patient and takes upto one week.  I will then be admitted to the hospital where they will administer a high dose of chemo that will wipe out my immune system.  After a day they will put my removed stem cells back in and my healthy blood cells will begin to grow.  This a slow process and can take up to 100 days for my immune system to get back to normal.  I will be in the hospital 18 - 21 days while my immune system recovers and will have to guard against infections.  Once home I will have to report back to the hospital on a daily basis to be checked and treated if required.  As my immune system improves the visits to the hospital wil decrease.