EDGERTON, Wis. (WMTV) - UW-Health Carbone Cancer Center hosted its second annual celebration of life Saturday, recognizing doctors, nurses, caretakers, donors, and recipients of stem cell transplants and CAR T-cell therapy.
Celebration guests spent the day sharing stories about the highs and lows of their treatment.
“It’s neat to get together with people who have been through that same thing, it’s hard to explain to family and friends what it’s like, but when you talk to other patients and you talk about side effects and things like that, you’ve got an understanding community right there, said Paul Westrick, he has had three stem cell transplants.
Guests also enjoyed a catered brunch, ice cream, and taking photos with Bucky the Badger.
Stem cell transplants can be a treatment option for people with cancer, genetic disorders, or some blood conditions, and CAR T-cell therapy can be a treatment option for certain types of cancer.
Patients often turn to these treatments when their cancer has been unresponsive to other methods, like chemotherapy.
“We have patients who would otherwise have passed away. They had no other good options. For some people, this can be a long-term remission and a cure,” said Zhubin Gahvari, a hematologist with UW-Health Carbone Cancer Center.
Two of Paul Westrick’s three stem cell transplants came from donors.
“You can’t do a donor stem cell transplant without a donor. It’s that simple,” said Gahvari. “Sometimes, one person saying I’m going to sign up for the registry is the difference between this person having a chance of a cure and just not having any option for this intervention.”
If you are interested in joining the national stem cell donor registry, you can find eligibility requirements and more information through the National Marrow Donor Program.
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