Brighter Days: Dawn's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Experience

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Dawn Whitty has been a professional photographer in Grayton Beach, Florida, for more than 30 years. When she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2022, she learned she would need an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). With no idea what the process would look like, she picked up her camera and decided to document it, one day at a time.

An autologous stem cell transplant uses a patient's own stem cells. After initial treatment brings the myeloma under control, stem cells are collected from the bloodstream and frozen. The patient then receives high-dose chemotherapy to destroy remaining cancer cells, and the stored stem cells are returned through an IV to rebuild the blood and immune system.

Not every myeloma patient needs a transplant. Talk with your healthcare team about whether ASCT is the right choice for you.

Chapters:

0:00 Dawn's Diagnosis

2:00 What Is an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant?

3:35 Is Transplant Still Needed?

4:59 Deciding on a Transplant

7:02 High-Dose Chemotherapy

8:15 Receiving Her Stem Cells

10:31 Side Effects in the Hospital

12:08 Counts Drop

15:34 Losing Her Hair

17:01 Engraftment

18:07 Leaving the Hospital

19:48 Telling Their Son

21:28 Coming Home

22:16 Looking Back

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