# My husband has lymphoma and needs a stem cell transplant \[Update, Condolences\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 12, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956 "2016-02-12T18:16:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/1 "2016-02-12T18:16:02Z")
This is hard for me to do as I’m not used to reaching out to people for help, but we’re in a bind, so here goes… I’ve been with the SDMB since the AOL days, so you don’t need to worry I’m some random spammer, and this has been pre-approved by the mods. My husband has cancer and it’s unfortunately a weird type of lymphoma that’s failed the first treatment efforts. His best chances for survival are with a stem cell transplant, and there will be many significant costs not covered by insurance. We’ve burned out our savings just to get to this point, and he’s unable to work. We’re still waiting for Social Security disability to engage, but it could be another year or more just to get the appeal hearing scheduled. It was suggested by a handful of people here that I post the [Gofundme page](https://www.gofundme.com/pze4qpg4) that was created to help defray the costs of treatment and the lost income. All we need is one or two angels with deep pockets 🙂 or a whole bunch of regular people with some extra money that they can give to a fairly anonymous person in the SDMB community. Something else that will help that’s entirely free is to amplify the campaign by putting it out to your Facebook contacts, tweeting it out, etc., so it’s seen by more people. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/2 "2016-02-12T18:54:06Z")
Donation made. Best wishes for successful fund raising and treatments! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/3 "2016-02-12T19:48:05Z")
I couldn’t give much but every bit helps I guess. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/4 "2016-02-12T19:51:15Z")
I helped. Best of luck to you. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/5 "2016-02-12T20:08:59Z")
Every little bit counts, right? We don’t have much, but I have reason to understand and appreciate the small donations that add up to something that makes a meaningful difference for a family. My own father fought a rare form of lymphoma back in the dark ages (mid/late seventies,) and I try to keep abreast of the research - I’m so glad that the oncologist has more tools in his kit today. Sending you virtual hugs and good vibes and a little bit of money. (And don’t forget to take care of yourself while you deal with so many other vital, immediate concerns. Really.) ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/6 "2016-02-12T20:55:50Z")
Donated. May I say he has the most glorious eyebrows? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/7 "2016-02-12T21:47:59Z")
Donated. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/8 "2016-02-12T23:32:10Z")
See? I told you Dopers were awesome about things like this; we love helping each other! Good luck to both you and Papa Glen! ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/9 "2016-02-13T00:56:18Z")
Is he looking at a stem cell donor or using his own stem cells? ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/10 "2016-02-13T09:55:47Z")
Donation made. Fingers crossed for a successful outcome. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/11 "2016-02-13T15:50:17Z")
I have donated, and thus expiated the sins of a sordid youth. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/12 "2016-02-13T17:55:34Z")
First off… I’m deeply humbled and touched by the almost completely anonymous generosity from the SDMB community. I was on the edge of a deep pit of despair, but you’re restoring my faith in humanity. [QUOTE=MissTake] Donated. May I say he has the most glorious eyebrows? [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=USCDiver] Is he looking at a stem cell donor or using his own stem cells? [/QUOTE] Sadly, he had great eyebrows. The chemo has reduced them to minor wisps, along with making all of the rest of the hair on his head fall out. Eyebrows, beard, hair…gone. Hopefully, they’ll grow back. As for the stem cells, the plan is to harvest his own. It’s an interesting process of trying to kill them off with chemo, then when the body is coming out of what’s called the nadir period, hit him with something called colony stimulating factors, which is apparently stem cell fertilizer. The stem cells start jumping out of the bone marrow into circulating blood and are filtered out using something similar to dialysis. Once they have enough stems, he goes in hospital for the super-strong and hopefully last-ever chemo treatment, which is meant to eradicate every last bit of cancer while at the same time, eradicating his immune system. Once recovered from that, they put the stem cells back in, where they go on to start making blood cells and a new immune system. Looking at that description, it’s hard to believe it’s an accepted thing to do to a person. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/13 "2016-02-13T18:40:44Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Sadly, he had great eyebrows. The chemo has reduced them to minor wisps, along with making all of the rest of the hair on his head fall out. Eyebrows, beard, hair…gone. Hopefully, they’ll grow back. Based on what I’ve seen from everyone I know whose lost hair to chemo, it will grow back curly. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/14 "2016-02-13T20:17:38Z")
Once chemo is over, how soon does hair start coming back, if it indeed does? My mom has been off for a while now, without seeing any new growth. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/15 "2016-02-13T21:00:05Z")
Donated. I just got a nice bonus at work, and I promised myself that at least half was going to charity. And then your post showed up. Also… **fuck cancer**. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/16 "2016-02-13T21:03:51Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > First off… I’m deeply humbled and touched by the almost completely anonymous generosity from the SDMB community. I was on the edge of a deep pit of despair, but you’re restoring my faith in humanity. > > Sadly, he had great eyebrows. The chemo has reduced them to minor wisps, along with making all of the rest of the hair on his head fall out. Eyebrows, beard, hair…gone. Hopefully, they’ll grow back. > > As for the stem cells, the plan is to harvest his own. It’s an interesting process of trying to kill them off with chemo, then when the body is coming out of what’s called the nadir period, hit him with something called colony stimulating factors, which is apparently stem cell fertilizer. The stem cells start jumping out of the bone marrow into circulating blood and are filtered out using something similar to dialysis. Once they have enough stems, he goes in hospital for the super-strong and hopefully last-ever chemo treatment, which is meant to eradicate every last bit of cancer while at the same time, eradicating his immune system. Once recovered from that, they put the stem cells back in, where they go on to start making blood cells and a new immune system. > > Looking at that description, it’s hard to believe it’s an accepted thing to do to a person. Yep, I went through the same process almost exactly three years ago. > **[Ask the Guy who is about to get a Stem Cell Transplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=680093)** > > I thought this might be an interesting discussion for the SDMB. You may recall from this thread that I am an ER Doctor. Not that it is particularly pertinent to this discussion but I may be able to answer questions about my current problems in a... ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/17 "2016-02-14T13:55:19Z")
I’m so very sorry you’re both going through this. I don’t have much to share these days, but I’ve sent some along and I hope that multiplies a billion fold. I’ll be praying for him. ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/18 "2016-02-15T20:59:07Z")
Donation made. Good Luck and all the best to you and Papa Glen. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/19 "2016-02-15T21:55:10Z")
Donation on the way. Hugs to you both! ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Like\_Tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Time\_Like\_Tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Like_Tears)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2016, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956/20 "2016-02-16T07:58:08Z")
Sent a little your way, wish I could do more. It comes along with my hopes for the best possible outcomes, and I’d definitely be interested in hearing about how stem cell treatment goes for ya’ll! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husband-has-lymphoma-and-needs-a-stem-cell-transplant-update-condolences/745956.md?page=2)