Celebrating a Second Chance at Life
A symposium for transplant survivors and their loved ones

More than 200 survivors of a bone marrow, stem cell or cord blood transplant will converge on Dallas, Texas September 20-21 for a two day educational forum on living well after transplant. Transplant experts from around the country will address issues ranging from how to protect your health after transplant, to coping with the psychological challenges that affect transplant survivors and their loved ones.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to learn and network with other survivors at the symposium,” said Michelle Worman, who was transplanted for chronic myelogenous leukemia in 1996, and now hosts an online chat room (bmtsupport.org) for patients, survivors and caregivers. “I know the information we learn from the experts and from each other will be very powerful.”

The symposium will kick off Saturday, September 20, 2008 with a presentation by Jeff Chell MD, chief executive office of the National Marrow Donor Program, who will highlight the progress made in transplantation over the past decade.

His talk will be followed by presentations on how to manage your health long-term, emotional challenges post-transplant, and chronic fatigue. Separate networking sessions for survivors and family members will follow. The evening will conclude with dinner and entertainment by Dallas-based Vocal Trash – a high energy, a cappella vocal group that delights audiences of all ages

.On Sunday, a series of workshops will address the unique needs of pediatric and adult survivors. Topics will include learning and memory problems after transplant, caregiver challenges, insurance questions, chronic graft versus host disease, sexuality post-transplant, infertility, and hormone replacement therapy. The day will end with an Ask the Experts session, where a panel of transplant experts will answer questions from the audience on any transplant-related topic.

You can register online at: bmtinfonet.org/dallas2008 or at 888-597-7674. You can also use the registration form on page 7. A $75 registration fee for the two-day session includes snacks, dinner and entertainment on Saturday, and breakfast and substantial snacks on Sunday. A discounted hotel rate of $99/night has been arranged with the Doubletree Hotel at the Galleria where the conference will take place. Scholarships are available for survivors and family members who can not afford the registration fee. Phone 888-597-7674 for details. Social workers attending the conference can earn 7.5 continuing education units (CEUs).

“We’re very grateful to our sponsors for their support of this program,” says Susan Stewart, executive director of BMT InfoNet. “The symposium will provide participants with new tools to handle post-transplant issues and new friends who share common concerns. This is a unique opportunity to meet and learn from others who understand the challenges of surviving after transplant, and have practical information to share.”

Symposium Agenda & Sponsors

Editor: Susan K. Stewart

To subscribe, contact:
BMT InfoNet
2310 Skokie Valley Rd.,Suite 104
Highland Park, IL 60035
888-597-7674 (toll free)
847-433-3313
847-433-4599 (fax)

This issue of Blood and Marrow Transplant Newsletter is sponsored by Cytogen