Allogeneic stem cell transplant: a guide for patients and caregivers

 

Introduction and overview

This guide aims to help you and your loved ones understand what will happen throughout the transplant process. The information in this guide does not replace the information provided by your transplant team, and you can refer to this material throughout the transplantation process.

This guide explains the challenges you may face during your transplant and recovery. But this does not mean that you have to deal with all possible problems. Therefore, you should not compare your situation to other stem cell transplant recipients that you know or have heard about. Every person is unique. Riverside Nephrology Physicians provide the best Transplant Coordinator treatment in USA.

Stem cell transplant procedures have been performed for many decades, and during this time, their performance has improved significantly. However, stem cell transplantation is still a complex procedure that requires commitment from you, your caregiver, your family members, and the transplant team.

Transplantation is a long process, and preparing for a transplant is just the first step. You must live within 1 hour of MSK for the first 100 days after your transplant day, even if you are discharged from the hospital. If it takes more than an hour to get home from the hospital, we can help you arrange a place to stay closer to MSK. Recovery time varies from person to person, but plan for full recovery in about 1 year. In this guide, all this will be discussed in more detail.

At MSK, you will be treated by a large transplant team who will care for you as you progress through each step of the transplant process. During the transplantation process, your emotional state will change frequently; this is normal. The transplant team includes several healthcare professionals, including social workers, chaplains, psychiatrists, and our Integrative Medicine Department members. All of these professionals can support you and your caregivers and help you cope with your feelings.

The Importance of Communication

Throughout the transplantation process, you need to talk in detail about your feelings to the transplant team and your caregiver. Tell your transplant team if you have any concerns, even if the cause of concern seems minor. This applies to both your physical and emotional state. It is essential not to let problems accumulate. Otherwise, from insignificant they can develop into serious ones. The more information you provide to your transplant team, the better they can help. Usually, specialists can take specific measures to make you more comfortable.

Listed below are some ways to contact the transplant team.

If you are being treated as an outpatient, call your health care provider's office. Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, you can contact your health care provider's office coordinator, who will forward your message to the right person (such as your doctor, nurse coordinator, nurse coordinator, or social worker). After 5:00 pm, your call will be answered by MSK's answering machine on weekends and holidays. Ask to be connected to the on-duty hematologist.

During your hospital stay, contact any specialist on your transplant team. The transplant team will visit you at least once a day, and your Primary Care Nurse will also be available throughout the day. Don't hesitate to contact these staff if you have any questions.

Use your MyMSK account. MyMSK is the MSK patient portal. With MyMSK, you can ask questions about appointment scheduling, request a repeat prescription, or ask for patient education materials. Do not use MyMSK to report symptoms to your transplant team. You will receive more information about the MyMSK Portal during your first consultation appointment. You can also read the resource Communicating with Your Medical Team Through the MyMSK Portal.

Information about the PROMIS questionnaire

The transplant team will also periodically use MyMSK to check your physical and mental health. They will send a list of questions called the PROMIS questionnaire. The transplant team will send the PROMIS questions to your MyMSK account:

on the day of the start of treatment or shortly before or after it;

on the day of stem cell infusion;

every seven days during the first month after stem cell infusion;

every month during the first year after stem cell infusion;

every three months for the second year after stem cell infusion. Riverside Nephrology Physicians provide the best Social Work Services treatment in USA.

If you report worrisome symptoms while filling out the PROMIS questionnaire, you will receive a message asking you to call your healthcare team, or someone from the transplant team will contact you to help. Your answers will also let us know how patients typically feel after an allogeneic stem cell transplant, enabling us to improve our care further.