Jeannette Morgan was surprised to learn that she was the 200th patient to be treated by the MCG Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program.
“I didn’t even know what bone marrow transplant was at first,” admits Morgan, who lives in Nahunta, GA.
Diagnosed with lymphoma in March, Morgan underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy before her physician referred her to MCG for a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow transplants can be a necessary part of cancer treatment, particularly when patients must undergo high doses of chemotherapy or radiation. “High-dose chemotherapy or radiation treatments can take a heavy toll on normal cells, including vital blood cells produced in the bone marrow,” explains Dr. Anand Jillella, Chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at MCG Health System. “Yet by replacing damaged marrow, bone marrow transplants give high-dose, high-intensity chemotherapy and radiation a chance to do their work.”
The 200 mark is one that Dr. Jillella is proud to reach. “Bone marrow transplants are cutting-edge treatments that have become mainstream,” he says. “Over the program’s nearly 10-year history, we have been able to provide many patients with a chance to be cancer-free, and a chance to return to their former quality of life.”
That’s what Ms. Morgan, who turns 70 on December 22, is most looking forward to. “I’ve truly been blessed,” she says. “I’m ready to feel like my old self again.”
Since 1997, the MCG Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program has provided treatments to adults with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood-related cancers. It is the only such program outside of Atlanta and serves patients throughout the state.
MCG Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program
MCG Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program successfully blends state-of-the art transplant care delivery with a philosophy of family-centered care. The program is led by a team of highly trained specialists whose credentials and experience are among the best in the nation. The program is directed by Dr. Anand P. Jillella, chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology.
For more information, please call 706-721-CARE (2273) or visit MCGHealth.org/Cancer.
For more information on
Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant.