The 999th Bone Marrow Transplant: Adam's Story of Courage and Recovery

"I thought it was just the way I slept."

For weeks, Adam*(name changed to protect the patient's identity) dismissed the persistent pain in his ribs as something minor - assuming the discomfort was simply caused by an awkward sleeping position.

But when the pain became unbearable, he decided it was finally time to seek medical attention. What seemed like a routine visit to the emergency department would soon change his life forever.

The Phone Call That Changed Everything

After examining Adam, doctors discharged him with pain medication and performed a blood test before sending him home. That same evening, his phone rang.

The hospital had detected abnormalities in his blood results and suspected he might have leukaemia. Adam was immediately referred to a haematologist, who performed a bone marrow biopsy the following day. The diagnosis was confirmed.

"I couldn't believe it and I couldn't bring myself to accept that this was happening,” Adam shared.

Like many patients facing a cancer diagnosis, Adam experienced a whirlwind of emotions. Denial soon gave way to fear as he began thinking about what lay ahead - the treatment, the uncertainty, and how the diagnosis would affect his family.

Seeking Treatment at SJMC

Because Adam required a bone marrow transplant (BMT), he needed to seek treatment at a centre that offered the procedure. After discussing his options with his insurance adviser and seeking recommendations from his doctors, he was referred to Dr Tan Sen Mui, Consultant Haematologist at Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC).

From the very beginning, Dr Tan took the time to explain every step of the transplant journey, helping Adam understand what to expect and preparing him for the road ahead.

The road to transplant, however, was far from straightforward. As Dr Tan explains, " Adam did not have any fully Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-matched siblings, and he also had significant Donor-Specific Antibodies (DSA) against his sister, who was haploidentical (half-matched) to him. As a result, none of his three siblings was a suitable stem cell donor.”

“His first cycle of induction chemotherapy was stormy as he developed an infection caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria with severe inflammation of his large bowel causing subacute intestinal obstruction and abdominal distension. He required several weeks of intravenous antibiotics and parenteral nutrition. Fortunately, he responded well to treatment and recovered."

Healing Both Body and Mind

Hospitalised for nearly a month, Adam spent most of his days confined to bed. The physical exhaustion was challenging, but the emotional toll proved just as overwhelming.

As his anxiety intensified, Dr Tan referred him to Dr Reminder Kaur, Consultant Psychiatrist at SJMC, who worked closely with him to help manage his fears and prepare mentally for the transplant.

Looking back, Adam believes this support was just as important as the medical treatment itself. "My family was my biggest support system emotionally, but both Dr Tan Sen Mui and Dr Reminder were incredibly patient in guiding me throughout my treatment journey,” Adam shared.

Renewed Hope

After his second maintenance therapy, Adam finally received the news he had been waiting for - a fully matched (10/10) unrelated donor had been identified through the Malaysian Stem Cell Registry.

"Finding a suitable donor was a pivotal moment in Adam's treatment journey and gave us renewed hope for a successful transplant and recovery," says Dr Tan.

With a compatible donor found, Adam successfully underwent his bone marrow transplant, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his recovery.

A Milestone in Adam's Journey

Today, Adam has successfully completed his bone marrow transplant and passed the critical first 100 days of recovery. He now returns to SJMC every month for routine blood tests and follow-up appointments.

His treatment also marked an important milestone for SJMC. Adam became the hospital's first patient to undergo an unrelated donor BMT using stem cells sourced through the Malaysian Stem Cell Registry and SJMC’s 999th BMT patient.

Finding a compatible donor within Malaysia not only reduced the waiting time but also significantly lowered the cost of treatment compared to sourcing stem cells from overseas registries, making this life-saving procedure more accessible for Adam.

Looking Ahead

“Going through a bone marrow transplant is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one. There were days when I felt overwhelmed, but having the support of my family and my doctors helped me stay positive. I hope that by sharing my story, others going through something similar will know they don't have to face it alone.”

Today, Adam is focused on rebuilding his health and looking ahead to the future - one follow-up appointment at a time. His story serves as a reminder that while cancer treatment can be physically demanding, emotional support, compassionate care, and hope can make all the difference.

For more information about SJMC’s Bone Marrow Transplant services, please contact our Cancer Care Coordinator: +6019-218 3595 / +6019-628 4130