Approved as a National Cancer Institute transplant center and accredited through the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, the Autologous Stem CellTransplant Program offers a promising treatment approach for specific types of cancer.
In this treatment, which is typically done when a person is in remission, high doses of chemotherapy are given to kill the remaining cancer cells. Blood stem cells or bone marrow, previously collected from the patient, are then re-infused into the patient where they return to the bone marrow to regenerate normal blood cells.
Much of the preparation for the transplant, which includes the work-up and stem
cell collection process, is done on an outpatient basis. The patient comes into
the hospital for the high dose chemotherapy and the re-infusion of stem cells.
This complex treatment requires the skills of many specialists. The care team
is made up of individuals who provide comprehensive care, including hematologists/oncologists,
radiation oncologists, infectious disease specialists, internal medicine residents,
home care nursing staff, and oncology certified registered nurses. The nurse coordinator
works with each patient to educate him or her about the transplant process, and
to make sure all aspects of their care are coordinated.
The Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant Program is currently approved by most major local insurance plans
including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Health Partners, and Medica. If you have questions
about whether your specific insurance will cover this procedure at our institution,
please call us and we will assist you in talking to your insurance company.
For more information on the Transplant Program, call 612-863-5310.
Virginia Piper Cancer Institute
Abbott Northwestern Hospital
800 East 28th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-863-4633
Source: Kathy Martin, RN
First published: 01/01/2004
Last updated: 03/01/2007
Print
Send to a Friend