Pediatric blood and marrow transplant

Care team

Your child’s care team will include a transplant physician (sometimes called an “attending physician”), an advanced practice provider and a registered nurse who specializes in blood and marrow transplant (BMT). At some visits, your child might see a registered dietitian, too. A patient care coordinator schedules your child’s visits.

If your child has complications or side effects during their engraftment and recovery, we can call in other Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center or Seattle Children’s Hospital specialists to help. For example, if they have skin, heart or digestive issues, we might call in a dermatologist, cardiologist or gastroenterologist.

Gastroenterologist Gastroenterologists are trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal system, including cancers of the liver, pancreas, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum and anus. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores.

Comprehensive care

We have many more experts we can call in to help your child, including dental care specialists, pain services staff, physical therapists, Child Life Services staff and integrative medicine experts. Supportive care providers, such as a psychologist or social worker, are available if you need them. If you, your child or your family members do not speak English, we can arrange for specially-trained medical interpreters.

Integrative medicine Combines conventional (standard) medical treatment with complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies that have been shown to be safe and to work. CAM therapies treat the mind, body and spirit.

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Meet the caring, dedicated people who take care of you and your family at Fred Hutch.

What each team member does

Advanced practice provider (APP)

These healthcare professionals work closely with your child’s transplant physician. There are two types: physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). They help provide and coordinate your child’s treatment and can see your child without a physician. They also help manage any side effects related to your child’s disease and treatment.

Nurse practitioner A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families. A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. Nurse practitioners are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families, based on a practice agreement with a physician. Physician assistant A health professional who is licensed to do certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician. A health professional who is licensed to do certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician. A physician assistant may take medical histories, do physical exams, take blood and urine samples, care for wounds and give injections and immunizations. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores.

Child life specialist

This staff member is trained in medical play, which is a type of age-appropriate therapy used to help your child understand more about BMT and what to expect.

Bone marrow transplant The process of treating disease with high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both. Bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are given after treatment to help the body make more blood cells. The process of treating disease with high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both. Because this treatment destroys the bone marrow’s ability to produce blood cells, bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are given after treatment to help the body make more blood cells.

Patient care coordinator

Your patient care coordinator works closely with you and your child’s physician. They serve as your scheduler.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists fill the medications prescribed by your child’s physician. They will teach you the right way to help your child take their medications, and they can explain any side effects that may happen and what to do if your child has them.

Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores.

Registered dietitian

Registered dietitians are credentialed food and nutrition experts. To earn this title, they must go through a lot of training and formal education, including doing an internship and passing a national registration exam. Registered dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy, which means they use an evidence-based approach to treat and help patients manage medical conditions through diet and nutrition.

Social worker

Social workers are trained to offer support to patients who have received a cancer diagnosis, are going through cancer treatment or are in recovery. They also work with people who are at high risk for cancer. Oncology social workers are key team members who have the knowledge and resources to help connect you with the right resources, such as psychiatry and psychology services, to support you through preventive care or treatment.

Team nurse (RN)

Your nurses manage your child’s care alongside their physician. They also help with procedures and treatments. Nurses are resources for you and your child. They answer questions and help with a wide range of topics, like how to cope with side effects or get other services you need at Fred Hutch.

Transplant physician

This physician specializes in blood and marrow transplants (BMTs) and will oversee your child’s treatments. They will see your child on a regular schedule to check how their disease responds to treatment and how they are overall.

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