New transplant program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Spectrum Health Medical Group recently established the first adult blood and marrow transplant program in West Michigan. What that means for patients, is that stem cell transplants can now happen in Grand Rapids. Traveling to another hospital across the state, or out of state, may no longer be necessary.  Doctor Stephanie Williams is the Program Division Chief and Medical Director of the Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Spectrum Health. She explains some of the reasons for stem cell transplants including diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin disease and multiple myeloma.  There are different types of stem cells including those that are not embryonic, but adult which are capable of self-renewal and proliferation. Sources for them include bone marrow, peripheral blood and cord blood.  There are four types of stem cell transplants which include  the following:
·Autologous: Patient serves as own donor
·Allogeneic: Related or unrelated HLA identical donor
·Syngeneic: Identical twin
·Xenogeneic: Crosses species barriers
 
Spectrum Health has a dedicated inpatient care unit in Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and is building a new 14,000 square-foot outpatient area in the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion opening in summer 2013.
they're estimating that up to 200 patients will receive treatment through the program each year. 
 
Living Well:
Stephanie F. Williams, MD
Medical Director, Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program
Spectrum Health Medical Group
221 Michigan, Suite 406
Grand Rapids
616.486.5933
spectrumhealth.org/blood-marrow-transplant