Blood and Marrow Transplant: Patient Care Resources
A blood and marrow transplant (BMT) is a procedure to replace blood-forming cells destroyed by disease or cancer treatment. BMT involves giving immature blood cells (called stem cells) to the patient following the preparative regimen which is chemotherapy with or without radiation.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANT
GETTING STARTED IN YOUR CARE
Getting Your Diagnosis
PLANNING YOUR TREATMENT
UNDERGOING TREATMENT & FOLLOW UP
Learn more about what to expect of treatment
Blood and Marrow Transplant: About this Treatment »
Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant: About this Treatment »
Allogenic Blood and Marrow Transplant: About this Treatment »
This overview explains what to expect for treatment with blood and marrow transplantation.
BMTs are performed when a person’s marrow isn’t healthy enough to function properly. The causes range from infections to diseases like anemias or cancers to damage caused by treatments like chemotherapy.
BMT starts with a preparative therapy that is chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy. The intensity of the preparative regimen varies from low to high doses of chemotherapy with or without radiation treatments. After this therapy, you are infused with stem cells to help your blood counts recover.
At the Stanford Cancer Program, we offer two approaches to blood and marrow transplant.
Autologous transplant uses your own stem cells. You are given a medication with or without chemotherapy that causes stem cells (immature blood cells) to leave the bone marrow they normally occupy to circulate in the bloodstream. The cells are then collected through a procedure called apheresis. The stem cells are then frozen and stored, while your body is treated with high dose chemotherapy to prepare your body for transplant. The stem cells are then reintroduced to you and will naturally find their way back to the bone marrow to begin to repopulate the marrow and make new blood cells.
An allogenic transplant uses a donor’s cells to give you new blood cells and a new immune system after the preparative regimen. If you have relatives who are available to donate, they will be tested to see if any is a close-enough match for you. If you do not have a related donor, we will search international donor registries for a match. If no match can be found, you may be able to receive a transplant using the cells of a donor who is a close match to you or a transplant using stem cells harvested from cord blood. Cord blood comes from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby. These stem cells can renew themselves and reconstitute blood and bone marrow. These new sources of stem cells, like umbilical cord blood, ensure that almost all patients needing a transplant will have a donor.
At the Stanford Cancer Center, you will have a care team for each type of treatment you have. Learn more about your care team for blood and marrow transplant in the description below:
Your Doctors
Hematologist
This type of doctor has specialized training in disorders of the blood and bone marrow and treating these disorders using drug therapy, as well as blood and marrow transplant.
Medical Oncologist
This type of doctor has specialized training in diagnosing and treating cancer using drugs. Medical oncologists often serve as your main health care provider, coordinating your treatment among several specialists.
Extended Care Team
This health care provider works with your surgical oncologist to help with diagnosis and treatment. The provider can be a nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or clinical nurse specialist.
These coordinators are specialized registered nurses who provide one-on-one support to guide you through the cancer treatment process. The coordinators serve as your point of contact to help manage your care, from your first appointment through follow-up visits. They assess your needs, answer your questions, make referrals, coordinate appointments, and provide patient education.
These assistants help with administrative issues such as scheduling your appointments, managing your paperwork, and requesting your medical records.
If you need to stay in the hospital after surgery, a registered nurse will take care of you.
This team member greets you at the front desk and registers you for your appointments.
If you have apheresis (a specific type of blood transfusion) or chemotherapy, your infusion treatment area (ITA) scheduler will set up your appointments.
This team member helps you during your doctor visits by:
- Bringing you to your exam room after you check in for an appointment
- Providing you with a hospital gown or other clothing for your physical exam
- Taking your vital signs before your doctor sees you
A staff member calls you before your first appointment to:
- Provide information that you need to know to prepare
- Provide a list of what you need to bring
- Help gather your medical records
Support Services
PathWell is your connection to personalized support services before, during, and after your treatment. Our teams of doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, nutrition experts, financial counselors, and more work with your oncology team to provide comprehensive specialized care to you and to your family.
- 650-498-6000 Ask for the PathWell team
Stanford Health Library
For confidential help with your health care questions, contact the Stanford Health Library. Professional medical librarians and trained volunteers can help you access journals, books, e-books, databases, and videos to learn more about medical conditions, treatment options, and related issues.
- 875 Blake Wilbur, Palo Alto: 1st floor near the cafe, 650-736-1960
- South Bay Cancer Center: 3rd floor lobby, 408-353-0197
Email us your questions: healthlibrary@stanfordhealthcare.org
At your first appointment, you will need the team who will take care of you throughout your treatment. During this visit, your doctor will discuss your medical history with you in detail.