Pokey Allen Still In Critical Condition

Boise State University football coach Pokey Allen remained in critical but stable condition on Wednesday, fighting the effects of treatment for cancer, a university spokesman said.

Max Corbet said those familiar with Allen’s condition, including his physician Dr. Carolyn Collins, indicated that the next several days will be crucial.

Allen, who is being treated at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, is without white blood cells after aggressive chemotherapy to kill cancer wiped them out. His own stem cells, which had been harvested earlier in Boise, were transplanted back into his body 10 days ago.

But those cells are not expected to start functioning for another five days. Until then, he is prone to infection that is causing high temperatures, low blood pressure and heart arrhythmia.

Allen was diagnosed last December with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare tissue cancer.

His chances of survival increased from 10 percent or 15 percent to as much as 35 percent because of the stem-cell transplant.