“Consider What’s Important,
com
SOURCE: The National
Institutes of Health
How do you become a
donor?
If you're at least 18 years old
and meet certain health
requirements, you can register
to donate through the National
Marrow Donor Program
(NMDP) — a
registry of people around the
world who are willing to
donate bone marrow and
blood stem cells to total
strangers.
Registration is simple and only
requires that you fill out a
health history and give a blood
sample. You can contact the
NMDP through its Web site, or
you can call your local chapter
of the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross often
participates in bone marrow
drives. You may be charged a
one-time fee of roughly $100
to pay for testing your blood,
although that fee is sometimes
waived during bone marrow
drives. Bone marrow drives
are held to encourage people
to donate.
If a match is made, all fees
pertaining to the actual
donation are covered by the
recipient. Once you've
registered with the NMDP, a
technician will use your blood
sample to match you with
people in need of bone
marrow. You might be called
to donate within a few months
or it could be years. It's also
possible that you may never
match someone in need.
For information: NATIONAL
BONE MARROW PROGRAM
http://www.marrow.org
@LTACITIES.
Not Just What’s Urgent”
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different
cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body,
they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as
long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides,
each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become
another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle
cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell. Research on stem cells is
advancing knowledge about how an organism develops from a single
cell and how healthy cells replace damaged cells in adult organisms.
This promising area of science is also leading scientists to investigate
the possibility of cell-based therapies to treat disease, which is often
referred to as regenerative or reparative medicine.
Stem cells are one of the most fascinating areas of biology today. But
like many expanding fields of scientific inquiry, research on stem cells
raises scientific questions as rapidly as it generates new discoveries.
Embryonic stem cells, as their name suggests, are derived from
embryos. Specifically, embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos
that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro
fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes with
informed consent of the donors. They are not derived from eggs
fertilized in a woman's body. The embryos from which human
embryonic stem cells are derived are typically four or five days old and
are a hollow microscopic ball of cells called the blastocyst. The
blastocyst includes three structures: the trophoblast, which is the layer
of cells that surrounds the blastocyst; the blastocoel, which is the
hollow cavity inside the blastocyst; and the inner cell mass, which is a
group of approximately 30 cells at one end of the blastocoel.
An adult stem cell is an undifferentiated cell found among
differentiated cells in a tissue or organ, can renew itself,
and can differentiate to yield the major specialized cell
types of the tissue or organ. The primary roles of adult
stem cells in a living organism are to maintain and repair
the tissue in which they are found. Some scientists now
use the term somatic stem cell instead of adult stem cell.
Unlike embryonic stem cells, which are defined by their
origin (the inner cell mass of the blastocyst), the origin of
adult stem cells in mature tissues is unknown.
Research on adult stem cells has recently generated a
great deal of excitement. Scientists have found adult stem
cells in many more tissues than they once thought
possible. This finding has led scientists to ask whether
adult stem cells could be used for transplants. In fact,
adult blood forming stem cells from bone marrow have
been used in transplants for 30 years. Certain kinds of
adult stem cells seem to have the ability to differentiate
into a number of different cell types, given the right
conditions. If this differentiation of adult stem cells can be
controlled in the laboratory, these cells may become the
basis of therapies for many serious common diseases.
Given my last name, I am often confused with that fellow named, “Jeff.” While
Famous my name doesn’t end in “y,” his humor and notoriety makes many believe
People: there is a relationship. And while I usually respond with an emphatic “no,” I
could be wrong based upon what I am about to tell…
But Are Rotarian Confesses Truth in Cancer Survivorship
BY MICHAEL E. FOXWORTH
They Glendora, CA, Rotarian ...
[RI member since 1986; President, Anaheim Rotary Club, 1995-96]
Stem Cell “He who never changes, never mends. He who never yields, never
Donors? conquers.” — Charles Spurgeon
Living with any serious disease can be a test. If you or a loved one has been
there, perhaps you can identify with my story.
We all hear the mind-numbing statistics: one in four people will have some
form of cancer in a lifetime; one in three families will see a loved one live,
perhaps die with cancer. (Source: American Cancer Society)
Still, such data seems sterile and unlikely, until the day cancer hits home.
For me, cancer came home when I contracted one of the most aggressive
forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in March 2006.
The day began like every other workday. Rising to shower and shave, I
discovered a lump under my right arm, a growth about the size of a golf
ball, also about as hard. What’s this? I finished showering and getting ready
for work while contemplating: What now?
This was only days before my wife Dee Dee and I planned to begin a
Florida trip to visit family and attend my 40th high school reunion (the first
I have attended since graduation). Because there was no pain from the site
of the lump, I decided to wait until our trip was over to check the matter
with my doctor (and my wife).
Upon returning to our California home a week later, another week passed
before my doctor’s appointment. Still silent with my wife about the
discovery, I returned home that Thursday evening, finally sharing that I had
They Could seen the doctor that day about a mystery growth under my arm. Astonished
that I had been so stoic and silent about the matter, Dee Dee, quizzed me for
Save answers I did not have and wouldn’t have for some time. I was glib. She
was puzzled.
A Life …
Because The next step was a scheduled appointment with a thoracic surgeon for a
biopsy. By now, we were certain this was not just an infection because other
God, Great
growths had appeared. When the biopsy was completed and diagnosis
Medicine and
confirmed, the cancer reality was ours to live: mantle cell lymphoma (MCL
Unrelated - aggressive blastoid type).
Donor This is a chapter of our lives still being written over time. The book is
Saved Mine! incomplete. Initially, we had an HMO referral to an oncology group that just
did not connect with us in the proper way. Our second referral was much
 VISIT better and that is where our treatment began in April 2006
Originally, the oncologist scheduled eight sessions of
MyJournal chemotherapy. After six sessions, I was in remission. He
or click, search advised me to call his office in six months to schedule an
these links: appointment to develop a maintenance plan. Unfortunately,
ten weeks later the cancer returned.
• Mantle Cell
Lymphoma When we were referred at that time to another specialist
(thanks to our point of service (POS) option in our HMO
• Rotary International plan), we began a third cycle that started to employ some
• Glendora Rotary weekend inpatient treatment in addition to the continuing
outpatient therapy. By then (and we knew this was likely to
happen), referral came to a major national cancer treatment
center in the area to start the therapy that would lead to the
stem cell transplant.
Because we never obtained lasting remission from some 16
different chemo treatments, our only viable option that
Throughout its offered hope of a cure for MCL was a stem cell transplant.
history, City of Hope The unrelated donor stem cell transplant (MUD SCT) was
has been committed completed on August 22, 2007. On the 44th day post
to excellence in all transplant, results of a PET scan were negative (cancer gone!)
areas of biomedical and we also received the DNA test results -- the SCT was
research, patient- successful. My blood type, DNA, and immune system had
centered medical been transformed to that of my 23-year-old anonymous donor
care, and community somewhere in an overseas location. Presidential hopeful
outreach. Barack Obama tells of weird and unexpected genetic
connections in his heritage. My stem cell experience attests to
In recognition of our the homogeny of the world’s gene pool. My own two
excellence in a brothers were not matches. A total stranger was.
broad range of new
approaches to Looking back over my two-year survivorship to date, I
cancer research and remember one day, when we arrived at the hospital outpatient
treatment—and our clinic for a chemotherapy appointment, the registration line
outreach to the was particularly long (maybe 50 people). Falling in line
community—the behind me was a middle-age women with her husband and
National Cancer from her first comment I overheard, I could tell that this was
Institute (NCI) has their first visit. She remarked: “Look at all these people; how
designated City of sad!” I couldn’t help but respond to her: “This is not sad at
Hope a all. All of these people have this place to come for care,
Comprehensive treatment and a possible cure! What would they do without
Cancer Center— this hospital?”
families will
one of just a handful
of elite institutions Just prior to our stem cell transplant procedure and
nationwide. As a hospitalization, our physician and medical care team
division of the informed us that we had a 10%, possibly 20% chance of
National Institutes of success with this treatment. This evaluation largely came
Health, the NCI is from the fact that the lymphoma was so aggressive. Since the
the Federal beginning of chemotherapy (April 2006), the longest period
Government's of remission had been ten weeks (after the first treatment).
principal agency for We found that most of the succeeding treatments would bring
cancer research and shorter-term remissions; some none at all. The greatest risk
training. complication from the stem cell transplant procedure was
graft versus host disease (GVHD) which can be fatal.
Meanwhile, until Nov. 30, 2007, I was restricted to home confinement for
the first 100 days of recovery. Nearly 250 days post-transplant to date,
recovery has been steady but slow with some skin rash (GVH), but on Feb.
25, 2008, I returned to work on a part-time basis.
The partner and wife that I was so reluctant to share those first signs of the
disease (because of some silly male trait that tries to foolishly protect loved
ones from harm and bad news), has been my most constant support. She has
tended to every possible need that I have had while still keeping her
composure and outward strength. She was and is my best supporter and
advocate. I know this has been a real struggle for her; often difficult. But
she has persevered in an amazing way. Undaunted she is because of her
faith and the confidence that we, together, witnessed in the care, knowledge,
skills and service of our many care givers, our loving family, and a strong
community of faith.
In the mind of every cancer survivor is the question: What if cancer returns?
Knowing that life affords no guarantees, there is no element of surprise
here, but possibly disappointment. We have survived one round; we know
this is a marathon, not a sprint. We can survive others, although there is
virtually no likelihood a second stem cell transplant would be done.
Research continues on the discovery of a lymphoma vaccine and perhaps
that will be available in the near future. We have been asked about lessons
learned during this cancer journey. The question prompts us to share: If
possible, we would not, in the future, take a course that would have us see
so many specialists on our way to the best care destination we could have
found. To those who are fortunate enough to have employment-based health
insurance: look seriously at the point of service option (POS), if available.
This affords the most flexibility and peace of mind when care providers may
need to be changed.
For the rest of our life, we hope to stay in the care of the physicians and
hospital where we had the stem cell transplant performed. This is one of the
best, if not the best, cancer treatment facilities in the world: City of Hope,
Duarte, California. Today, I am an unabashed advocate for this life-saving
facility; also for the imperative that we all should keep no secrets and live
each day to share with family, loved ones and friends the best that faith and
hope can offer. Building such values in others is a certain way to fortify
1 in 3 same in ourselves. My cancer story has led me to adopt: “Consider what’s
important, not just what’s urgent.” But then, of course, that is no
improvement upon the classic Rotary consideration: First, is it the truth?
deal with
___
cancer in For the original of this document,
their GOOGLE: MyJournal by Mike Foxworth to access, download a
PDF version of the document in the original 8x11 format.
lifetime