Spring Is Here

This month, we welcome spring.

We’re excited to spotlight one of our esteemed Link Partners, ASTCT, below. They are an incredible organization with resources sure to guide you and yours through the transplant and cellular journey.

We want to continue to ask for pearls of wisdom from all of you, our wonderful readers and incredibly kind survivors and caregivers as we celebrate our 30th year. Your pearls are fantastic and appreciated. We want to again offer a free, NEW Caregiver book to anyone who enters their best tips for caregivers or survivors to utilize through their life-saving journey. We will only use your first name when posting. If you prefer that we do NOT use your first name,
please let us know when you enter. 

Email your entry by April 11 at 5 pm to info@nbmtlink.org and be sure to include your postal mailing address. 

Lunch & Learn
with the LINK

A Telephone Support Program for Patients,
Families/Caregivers/Loved Ones

Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Noon EST (one hour)



Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease and How It Affects the Lungs

This month’s call in program will address cGHVD of the lungs. Dr Carrie Kitko, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center will enlighten us on the challenges of diagnosing chronic lung GVHD, the potential novel treatments available and how these newer agents may be able to go beyond stabilization of the disease by targeting fibrosis, the main culprit. Additionally, Whitney Davis will share her experience with lung GVHD and the relief she is experiencing firsthand. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.


Special Thanks To Our Sponsors: 
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Incyte Corporation, Pharmacyclics & Janssen
and Omeros Corporation 
We also thank our Esteemed Link Partners, listed at the end of this newsletter.
 
This FREE program is intended to provide psychosocial and emotional support along with health information from national experts regarding critical topics surrounding cancer and treatments. This program is recorded and available on our website one week after airing live. (www.nbmtlink.org)

To register for this Lunch & Learn, please click above, to access the quick registration form.
The form contains the call in details needed.
If you have any technical issues related to registering, please contact peggyburkhard@nbmtlink.org or call (248) 770-5172. Note: YOU call in to participate.
(We do not call you.)

NEW Coffee Klatch with
the LINK

A Survivor Coffee Klatch
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
from 2 PM TO 3:15 PM EST
ZOOM format


Join us for a special Coffee Klatch intended for survivors. This Coffee Klatch will allow for sharing and helping each other navigate the bone marrow/stem cell transplant/cellular therapy journey including how others cope, move forward post-transplant, tackle cGVHD and so much more. (First names ONLY will be used by our staff to protect privacy and these sessions will not be recorded. You may refer to yourself as you wish.) 

Please know that we will do our best to accommodate as many participants as possible. Please register above if interested and we will be in touch via email to confirm your participation, based on availability. Please do not sign up if you cannot attend. Questions regarding this program can be sent to peggyburkhard@nbmtlink.org.


"It was so nice to visit with so many survivors from across the country. It helps to not feel isolated and to know others experience things that are very similar to your experiences. Thank you for this wonderful program. And thank you for the goody box. It was a most welcome surprise and made me feel very special." 
Comment above from a 2021 Coffee Klatch participant

Sponsored by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and
our Link Partners listed below.



A Patient’s Guide to Understanding Bone and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy


The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) is an international professional membership association of more than 3,000 physicians, investigators and other health care professionals from more than 45 countries. Our mission is dedicated to improving the application and success of blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) and related cellular therapies. 
We understand that the idea of a stem cell transplant may be daunting and the process can be a bit confusing for patients or caregivers. To help you navigate this process and understand common terms that will be relevant to your diagnosis, treatment, medical team and continual care, ASTCT has developed free resources and tools that you can use to discuss your treatment plan with your healthcare team.
Understand Your Diagnosis 
The first step in treatment, diagnosis, is the identification of the nature of an illness or disease. ASTCT provides a list of common conditions that may be treated with BMT or cellular therapy. 
Treatment Plan 
It is important to note that each treatment plan timeline differs based on disease, disease state, and type of treatment.  During the treatment plan stage, patients will discuss with their physician the best treatment options for their diagnosis. ASTCT shares common medications and treatments that could be part of your treatment plan.
Having a transplant is a long process, and preparing for your transplant is only the start of your journey. Please discuss with your doctor to decide which type of transplant is best for you and what your transplant recovery will look like. We have developed a set of common terms to help you navigate these conversations. 
Team of Transplant Experts 
During transplant and cellular therapy, you will meet a team of experts. It is important to know what they do and how they can help you as you are going through this process. ASTCT provides a list of common medical experts you will meet during every stage of your transplant of cellular therapy process. 
Post-Treatment Monitoring
The Post-Treatment Monitoring stage is different for everyone. However, it is important to note that this stage is the longest of them all. After a transplant, each patient will be monitored closely for side effects from the transplant. Access common terms you will hear as you go through the monitoring for disease relapse and complications process.
You can access the ASTCT Patient Education Resource and additional tools on the ASTCT Website. 
 
Join the Celebration!

Survivors, let us help YOU celebrate your 2nd birthday—your second chance at life! The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link would love to send you a free, Celebrating 2nd Birthday Postcard annually, to be received in the month of your transplant to acknowledge your transplant anniversary! Sign up today by emailing your name and home address to cindyburke@nbmtlink.org. Wishing you many more healthy and happy birthdays to come!
How We Help Others!
We are a phone call or email away for patients and their loved ones.
info@nbmtlink.org
Patients, caregivers and health care professionals are amongst those we aim to help.
We cannot do it without the support of corporations, foundations and individuals like you!

Special thanks to our Esteemed Link Partners, listed below, who make everything we do possible through their support.

Link Partners include cancer centers and allied partners who annually support our mission of providing psychosocial support to patients, caregivers, their families and health care professionals dedicated to helping people navigate a bone marrow transplant. If you would like to learn more about the many benefits (books, programs, hyperlink on our website, bookmark inclusion) to being a Link Partner, please do not hesitate to contact us at (248) 358-1886.

American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT)
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital
Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR)
City of Hope
Dana-Farber Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center
DKMS 
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Network
Henry Ford Cancer Institute - Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program
Incyte Corporation
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Meredith A. Cowden Foundation
Nebraska Medicine
Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Center
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington
University School of Medicine
Spectrum Health Cancer Center
Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center