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Watch video to learn about Bone Marrow Transplant experience

Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Patient Guidebooks

Treatment

The Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program offers autologous transplants, related and unrelated allogeneic transplants, cord blood transplants, and haplo transplants. Our program is a fully accredited transplant center as well as a marrow and peripheral blood stem cell collection center for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).

Our program is also a member of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), a member of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for both adults and pediatrics. This affiliation allows us to offer the options of allogeneic unrelated marrow and stem cell donor transplants. Our program offers clinical trials for treating many types of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, such as acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. We are also actively involved in studies of the treatment of graft vs. host disease, appropriate use of antibiotics, growth factors, and the use of blood or marrow stem cells.

Evaluation for candidacy for a bone marrow or stem cell transplant involves multiple outpatient studies and appointments. These studies may include:

  • A history and physical examination
  • Blood work
  • Pulmonary function tests
  • MUGA scan (cardiac function test) or echocardiogram
  • X-rays and CT scans
  • Electrocardiogram
  • 24-hour urine for creatinine clearance
  • Psychosocial evaluation

Patients are usually not scheduled for tests or evaluations on their first visit. An initial BMT consultation generally lasts about an hour but your time in the clinic will be longer than that. After reviewing the patient’s medical history and completing a physical examination, the physician will explain what is involved in transplant, describe clinical trials for which the patient may be eligible, and answer the patient’s and family’s questions.

The Transplant Nurse Coordinator spends time with the patient and his/her family members during this visit as well further discussing and providing education about the transplant process, describing patient support services and answering questions. Interested patients may be taken on a tour of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. This nurse coordinates the patient’s care and work-up prior to the transplant including scheduling the necessary tests and appointments and making sure that patients have access to all of the support services that they need. Together with the attending physician, this nurse coordinates the patient’s care. Subsequent appointments will be scheduled for any additional testing and evaluation that is required. On return visits, appointments will also be arranged with financial counseling, social work, nutrition, pastoral care or any other support service that the patient needs.