“I literally placed my life in RMCC's guiding hands, and they gently maneuvered me through the maze of "stem cell transplant."”

Doris
Transplant Survivor

Blood and Marrow Transplant

The Rocky Mountain Blood and Marrow Transplant Program (RMBMTP)(www.rockymountainbmt.com) is a collaboration between Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers and Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center. It was founded in 1991 and is one of the few programs in the country to offer comprehensive transplant services in a community setting.

We offer the Rocky Mountain Region's largest full-service stem cell and bone marrow transplant program. We perform autologous transplants and allogeneic transplants as well as a full range of cellular therapies, including DLI's and photopheresis for Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGVHD). We offer treatments for hematological diseases and disorders with classifications of Aplastic Anemia, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Amyloidosis, Chronic Lymphocitic Leukemia (CLL), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), Hodgkin Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and Testicular Cancer.

Since its inception the Rocky Mountain Blood and Marrow Transplant Program has performed over 1,800 transplants. In 2009, the program performed 200 transplants.

The RMBMTP cares for adults. Allogeneic transplants are performed when a patient receives a transplant from a sibling, other unrelated donor or cord blood. An autologous transplant is performed when a patient is a self-donor. The programs also provide peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) as well as a variety of other services to cancer patients and their families. This includes excellent support services, access to cutting-edge research and assistance for patients and families with transportation, home care and housing if necessary.

BMT makes it possible for cancer patients with certain malignancies to receive very high doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While high doses of chemotherapy drugs are beneficial in destroying cancer cells, they can also destroy healthy cells in the body's bone marrow called stem cells.

Stem cells, concentrated in bone marrow and found in the blood that circulates within the body, develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets -- all of which are essential to life. The goal of BMT is to replace stem cells that have been damaged or destroyed by the intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments and/or cancer.

Prior to a patient undergoing the transplant procedure, there is a thorough educational process. RMCC's BMT programs are staffed to support patients in all aspects of the transplant process. The transplant team includes transplant physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists as well as nutrition and social service consultants.

For more information about the Rocky Mountain Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, please visit www.rockymountainbmt.com.