Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplants To Be Discussed At Norwalk Hospital

NORWALK — The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Norwalk Hospital will present “Explore the Options: Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplants for Cancer Care” on Tuesday, September 26, at 7 pm at the Richard S. Perkins Auditorium in Norwalk Hospital. This free program is part of Norwalk Hospital’s Medicine 2001 series and is being held during “National Bone Marrow Donor Awareness Week.”

The goal of the program is to educate people on the role on bone marrow/stem cell transplants in the treatment of various types of cancer. The importance of becoming a donor and the process involved will be explained by Dr Richard C. Frank, hematologist/oncologist with the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital.

Phyllis Osterman, patient services manager for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Carol Ann Baldwin, community education specialist at the New England Marrow Donor Program, will speak about the resources available to individuals. Moving testimonials from a bone marrow donor and recipient will also be included in the program.

“We’re trying to let people know how important it is to register in the National Bone Marrow Donor Program,” said Ms Osterman. “By donating a few drops of blood and becoming a part of the registry you can help save the life of someone suffering from leukemia and other blood-related cancers,” she explained.

Leukemia and lymphomas are the leading fatal cancers in young men and women under the age of 35. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest private organization concerned solely with funding research towards cures for blood-related cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and Hodgkin’s disease and improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

For more information on the upcoming program on bone marrow/stem cell transplants and other related programs and services call Phyllis Osterman at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at 203/967-8326.