Step One: An Introduction to Marrow and Cord Blood Transplant
If you are considering a bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also called a BMT), you have many things to think about. The guide STEP ONE: An Introduction to Marrow and Cord Blood Transplant gives you information to help you discuss treatment options with your doctor and make health care decisions.
To read the guide you can:
- Download a printer-friendly (PDF) copy of the 36-page guide.
- Order a free printed copy using an online order form.
You may also find answers to many of your questions on this Web site.
Looking at treatment options
- What are my possible treatment options?
- What diseases can be treated with a transplant?
- How can I work with my health care team to play an active role in my treatment?
- What questions should I ask my doctor?
- How do I sort through my options to make a treatment decision (PDF)?
Learning transplant basics
- What is a marrow or cord blood transplant?
- How will my doctor search for a suitably matched donor or cord blood unit?
- What are the steps of the transplant process?
- What can I expect for life after transplant?
Planning for costs and choosing a hospital
- How can I plan for transplant costs?
- What questions should I ask my insurance company?
- What health care coverage terms will I need to understand?
- How do I choose a hospital that does unrelated donor transplants?
Getting help
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is here to help you. NMDP staff in the Office of Patient Advocacy can provide you with educational materials in different formats (such as print, DVDs and CDs). They can also help you find resources, connect you to NMDP transplant centers and provide patient support and advocacy services. All these services are free.You can contact the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy by phone or e-mail. On this Web site, you can also find:
- Other patient support and resources from the NMDP
- A glossary of transplant-related terms
- A directory of other organizations that can help
