Clinical Cancer Care: Treatment Teams
Clinical Cancer Care: Diseases | Diagnostics | Advanced Tests | Treatments
Blood and Marrow Transplant Program (BMT) Team
Committed to providing outstanding patient care.
Welcome to the Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT) Program at LSU-Health Sciences Center. We are the only University Hospital Program in the state of Louisiana. We are committed to providing outstanding patient care. Our program also has a strong commitment to clinical and basic science research. We participate actively with the Southwestern Oncology Group, as well as with pharmaceutical companies looking at the role of stem cell transplant. We also collaborate with other transplant centers in cooperative group efforts to promote research in the area of stem cell transplant.
These medical procedures are used to treat diseases once thought to be incurable. The main purpose of BMT is to allow patients to receive very high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Because of the intensity of these treatments, your body is not able to make blood cells. Your ability to make blood cells is restored by giving you stem cells. These cells grow and restore your body’s ability to make blood cells.
The BMT Program at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center/LSU Health Sciences Center began in 1992. Over 450 Blood and Marrow Transplants have been performed to date. Our current activity consists primarily of autologous transplants, but we help facilitate referrals to transplant programs that are currently performing allogeneic transplants.
Autologous
Blood-forming stem cells are collected from the patient's own bone marrow, stored and then returned to the body (engrafted) after the patient receives high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy conditioning therapy. High dose treatment damages unhealthy stem cells remaining in the body. The collected marrow is rid of cancer cells before being returned to the same patient, and the patient's body may begin to form healthy new blood cells.
Allogeneic
A search must be done to find compatible stem cells
from a related or unrelated donor. The stem cells that
can develop into the full range of blood and immune cells are collected, stored and engrafted into the cancer patient after the patient receives high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
Transplant therapy aims to restore full hematologic and immunologic function following high dose therapy.
The Team
We know the decision to have a BMT is a difficult one, because the treatment involves risk. Our team is here to provide you with direction and support throughout the transplant process. A BMT is truly a team effort, with you and your primary caregiver being the most important members. Before starting any type of treatment, you will meet with our transplant physician and other members of the transplant team, which may include physician assistants, transplant coordinators and social workers. If a transplant is right for you, your treatment plan will be individualized based on your medical history and your overall condition.
The BMT team consists of physicians, physician assistants, a nurse coordinator, social worker, medical technicians and a business administrator who are committed to the overall rehabilitation of our patients with state-of-the-art treatment for this devastating disease.
Medical Director
Francesco Turturro, MD
Physician Assistants
Cheri Leary, PA-C
Mike Angelo, PA-C
BMT Nurse Coordinator
Susan Lerchie, RN, BSN, OCN, CHTC
BMT Lab Personnel
Tracy Carter, MT (ASCP), Supervisor
Amy Green, MT
BMT Office Coordinator
Colleen Holloman
BMT Social Worker
Catherine Credeur, GSW, OSW-C
Appointment Process
In order to be evaluated for hematopoietic transplant, a referral from the patient’s primary oncologist is necessary. Our office will request the appropriate medical record documentation according to the patient’s disease. Once these records are received and reviewed, an appointment will be made with the patient. For questions about this process, please call the BMT office at (318) 675-5972.
What to Bring
The patient should bring their insurance card, identification, a list of all medications and a friend or family member. The transplant evaluation usually lasts 1-2 hours, and a lot of information is discussed. It is ideal to have someone present for support.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
If you have not been to LSUHSC-Shreveport, then you will report to hospital registration to be assigned a hospital number. You then will report to the BMT clinic on 6KW of the main hospital. If you have been seen at LSUHSC-Shreveport, then you will report directly to the BMT clinic on 6KW. During you visit, you will see the physician assistant who will get your history and perform a physical exam, the nurse coordinator who will thoroughly discuss the hematopoietic stem cell process, the social worker who will discuss your social needs, and the physician who will discuss your disease and the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplant in your treatment.
Cancer Support Group
The Feist Weiller Cancer Center offers two patient support groups, meeting once a week, for all types of cancer. For more information about these two support groups, please call:
Jo Ann Stewart, RN at (318) 813-1409
Susie Wiggins, RN at (318) 813-1417
Ron Nierman at (318) 470-6180