The red cells are returned to the patient. A bone marrow transplant coordinator is available to assist with arrangements for an evaluation. A social worker is available to work with patients and their families to locate convenient local housing and assist, when possible, with other financial issues. This high dose therapy kills cancerous cells and also fast-growing body tissues such as marrow, thereby stripping the body of its immune system. The transplant itself is very simple and is done in the patient's own room.
Healthy marrow is infused via a catheter into the patient.
The donor's marrow cells make their way to the patient's bone marrow and begin to grow. While waiting for the new marrow to grow, the patient receives transfusions of red cells and platelets. The real challenge of bone marrow transplant lies in protecting the patient from infection and other life-threatening complications. It is at this point that our sophisticated laboratory technology and protocols become critical in monitoring the patient and in identifying appropriate treatment strategies. Because of resources unique to our program, we can apply advanced immune modulatory and biologic therapies in fighting infection, rejection and graft versus host disease.