In a blood or bone marrow transplant, immature blood cells are collected either from the patient or someone with matching blood chemistry and are infused into the patient's blood stream following intensive chemotherapy.

Because chemotherapy usually kills the bloodproducing bone marrow as well as the cancer cells, stem cells are transplanted to allow the bone marrow to regrow and start producing cancerfree blood cells again.

Our outpatient treatment program recognizes that a blood and marrow transplant is difficult for patients and requires a lengthy commitment to hospitalbased treatment. Whenever possible during the actual transplant phase, we offer a treatment option that allows patients to stay either at home or in a nearby hotel rather than requiring patients to stay overnight in the hospital. A blood and marrow transplant requires an average of 21 consecutive days, but only 3 6 hours each day are spent in actual treatment. Rather than spending the rest of the time in the hospital, we encourage patients to stay at home if possible, or in one of several local hotels that make special arrangements for BMT patients. This provides increased privacy and quiet time and can make the treatment less unpleasant.

For more on our transplantation process, visit http://bit.ly/dh_amelia.