Bone Marrow Transplant Program
Texas Children's Cancer Center has one of the premier stem cell and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) programs in the United States. Our state-of-the-art, 15-bed inpatient transplant unit is the largest of its kind in the Southwest.
Patient Comfort
Patient comfort is a priority, which has led the unit to employ new approaches to care that provide patients with more mobility and access to activities during their stay. A specialized HEPA air-filtration system allows patients to leave their rooms to socialize and participate in social functions on the unit. This allows them to socialize in a cheerful, home-like environvment and can make an extended stay on the transplant unit less traumatic for young patients. The HEPA air-filtration system is an advance that allows childrent to play openly in the BMT exercise room, playroom, and family rooms. Because of this system, there is no need for visitors to wear masks or gowns, which reduces the child's feeling of isolation, and makes them feel more at home during their stay.
BMT Disease Treatment
For some time, bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been a treatment of choice for relapsed leukemia patients. However, the role of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in the treatment of children with other forms of cancer and blood diseases has increased dramatically during the past few years. The Cancer Center Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program is helping to expand the use of this technique for patients with solid tumors like Osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma and brain tumors; a variety of high-risk hematologic diseases, such as thalassemia major and transfusion-dependent sickle cell disease; and other nonmalignant diseases.
Bone Marrow Donors
In addition, bone marrow donors other than perfectly matched siblings can now be used. Through this development, the Cancer Center can offer potentially curative bone marrow transplants to an increasing number of patients by using alternative bone marrow donors.
Research and Novel Approaches to BMT
A close interation with the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, makes the Bone Marrow Transplantation Program's (BMT) novel treatment approaches remarkable. Researchers and physicians are able to interact between the programs, which has led to a variety of new and exciting treatment approaches.