Blood & Marrow Transplantation Program
What a Patient Should Expect
First Visit to the BMT Clinic
During the first consultation, you will meet with several members of the transplant team to discuss your treatment options. Plan to spend between two to four hours for the first visit, which includes complete history and physical examination. Due to the complexity of your disease, more tests may be required before the transplant physician can provide you with final advice about transplantation. It is also possible that given multiple treatment options, you may not be able to reach a final decision regarding your interest for transplant upon the first visit. We strongly recommend that an immediate family member or friend attend this consultation with you. Please note that children under the age of 12 are not permitted in the clinic area.
To appropriately evaluate your eligibility for transplant, the following information and records are needed. You should make sure that these records have been sent to the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program for review prior to your visit:
· History, physical and examination results
· Operative reports
· All pathology slides and reports
· Radiation therapy reports
· Radiology films and reports
· X-ray scans
· Laboratory reports
· HLA lab reports
· Chemotherapy records/flow sheets
· Hospital records and discharge summaries
· Records from your physician’s office
After the Initial Visit
You will probably require time to reflect on the information you receive. In addition, the program team will meet to make a preliminary determination of your eligibility. We will be available to answer questions that may arise after the first visit. Upon a mutual decision to proceed, but before treatment starts, you will undergo a series of medical tests to determine your overall physical health and the status of your disease. These pre-transplant tests are usually done on an outpatient basis. The treatments that are needed before a transplant will vary depending on your illness.
Insurance and Duration of Treatment
Your insurance coverage varies depending on your policy. An insurance specialist will submit to your insurance company a written request for coverage of transplant-related costs. Other Moffitt representatives can help you investigate other methods of funding. Receiving to the transplant may take from two to several months based on your condition and the type of transplant you need. If you do not live near the Center, our social workers can assist you in finding temporary housing while undergoing testing or treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center.
Psychological and Social Support
The rigors of stem cell transplant will have an impact on all aspects of your and your family's lives, from physical changes to emotional, economic and vocational issues. You and your family will benefit from the personalized guidance of caring professionals at Moffitt who specialize in helping patients and loved ones cope with the impact of disease and its treatment.
Moffitt's Psychosocial and Palliative Care Program includes clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, child life specialists, a chaplain and a lodging coordinator, all of whom are dedicated to working with transplant patients and their families. The Psychosocial and Palliative Care Program team assists with problem solving to improve and maintain physical, emotional and spiritual functioning of patients and families during this stressful experience. All patients and families will meet with our social workers and a psychologist, prior to transplant, to develop a support plan appropriate for their individual needs. A variety of services will be offered to address such issues as counseling, pre-admission and discharge planning, and referral to community resources. A transplant peer-support program also is available.