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Blood Cancer Expertise You Can Trust

When you're facing a blood disease diagnosis, put your faith in us. Because for every test, appointment, and treatment, our team of internationally renowned experts is here. We help you weigh the options and understand our approach so you can make the most informed decision possible. Our Blood and Marrow Transplant Program performs over 140 transplants annually. Trust that you're in good hands with a team that's with you through it all.

Personalized Cancer Care That’s Nationally Recognized

Icon | FACT Accredited

FACT Accredited

Our program has been accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) since 2009. We are proud to be a leader in bone marrow transplants, and the first and only comprehensive bone marrow transplant center in Central Florida.

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Nationally Ranked Care

AdventHealth Orlando is recognized as the #1 hospital in Greater Orlando by U.S. News & World Report.

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CIBMTR Member

Our physicians are active members of The Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), a research organization focusing on hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy research.

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Cancer Research

Our physicians are constantly working to find breakthroughs in hematologic cancer treatment through numerous clinical trials. This dedication to discovery has paved the way for AHCI to participate in over 100 clinical trials each year, giving our patients unique access to innovative treatment methods that can’t be found anywhere else in the region.

Icon | More Joyful Outcomes. Higher Hopes.

More Joyful Outcomes. Higher Hopes.

Your health and recovery are our top priorities. And putting your recovery first has helped our Blood and Marrow Transplant program have some of the highest one-year survival rates in the state.

Icon | Renowned Transplant Team

Renowned Transplant Team

After performing more than 120 blood and marrow transplants annually, our team has each essential step down to a science, from performing your personalized pre-transplantation evaluation to providing the highest level of compassionate post-transplant care.

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MDF Foundation Center of Excellence

Our Blood & Marrow Transplant program has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the MDS Foundation, a global non-profit advocacy organization that for over 25 years has supported patients and their families as well as healthcare providers in the fields of MDS and its related diseases.

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Blood Diseases Could Include:

Understanding Your Treatment Options

Stem Cell Transplants

Blood and marrow stem cell transplants are one of the most effective ways to successfully treat many blood cancers. As Central Florida’s first and only comprehensive Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, we ensure that your health is in the hands of world-class oncologists who perform more than 120 different bone marrow transplants every year.

What is Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside your bones that produces blood cells in your body. A bone marrow transplant replaces damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy marrow, so your body can produce normal blood cells.

Options for Stem Cell Transplants

Before recommending a stem cell transplant, your oncology care team will guide you through a series of baseline testing to make sure a stem cell transplant is the best course of treatment for you. Depending on your diagnosis and test results, your team will collaborate to develop a personalized treatment plan.

We typically take one of two paths when it comes to treating blood-related cancers:

  • Allogeneic bone marrow transplants use bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells donated from genetically matched members of your family, typically your brother or sister or a donor located through national registries.

  • Autologous bone marrow transplants use peripheral blood stem cells harvested from you while you are in remission. These are frozen and utilized at a later time to treat your cancer with your own cells.

Your oncology care team can help answer any questions you may have about bone marrow or stem cell bone marrow transplantation.

RESOURCES
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Chemotherapy Treatment: What to Expect

Nothing matters more to us than getting you well, and getting you home. Depending on what type of blood cancer you have and how advanced it is, chemotherapy may play an essential role in successfully treating the disease. From the moment you arrive for your chemo treatment, one of our nurses will be there to greet you and guide you, keeping you and your loved one informed, comfortable, and in good spirits throughout your visit.

How Does Chemotherapy Work?

Using a combination of specialized drugs, chemotherapy has the power to destroy or slow down the growth of fast-growing cancer cells by finding and shrinking them in every part of your body. It can be administered intravenously, by injection, orally, or delivered directly into a specific part of your body.

At AdventHealth Cancer Institute, our oncology experts take an individualized approach to your chemotherapy treatment. Depending on your type of cancer, we’ll determine which drug or combination of drugs offers the most promise for you. Chemotherapy may be the only treatment you receive, or, more commonly, it’s used in combination with a bone marrow transplant.

Along the way, we're here to help however we can, answering any questions and helping you stay strong and optimistic before, during, and after your treatment.

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RESOURCES
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) Therapy

CAR-T is an immunotherapy that enlists and strengthens the power of a patient's immune system to attack cancer cells. As its name implies, the backbone of CAR-T cell therapy is T cells, which are often called the workhorses of the immune system because of their critical role in orchestrating the immune response and killing cells infected by pathogens.

The therapy requires drawing blood from patients and separating out the T cells. Next, using a disarmed virus, the T cells are genetically engineered to produce receptors on their surface called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). The final step is the infusion of the CAR-T cells into the patient (which is preceded by a "lymphodepleting" chemotherapy regimen). If all goes as planned, the engineered cells further multiply in the patient's body and, with guidance from their engineered receptor, recognize and kill cancer cells that harbor the antigen on their surfaces.

RESOURCES
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Patient Testimonials

Whole-person care has a profound impact. When our patients trust us with their health, we know they’re trusting us with their lives. That’s why we’re committed to cancer care that helps them heal in body, mind and spirit. Here are their stories, in their own words, told from the heart.

Catherine, a patient of our Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, shares her story on being diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer and her journey to survivorship with AdventHealth.

 

Our Specialists Specialize In You

Arlene Gayle, MD
Hematology Oncologist
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Rushang Patel, MD, PhD
Hematology Oncologist
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Meet Your Team
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Where To Find Us

Top cancer specialists. Life-saving treatments. Emerging innovations. Find the comprehensive cancer care you’re looking for across all seven Central Florida locations.

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Explore Patient Resources

You'll feel even stronger when you're surrounded by a loving support system. From our pampering Eden Spa, which provides relaxation services and wig fittings, to our in-depth CancerHelp Online Library and financial assistance tools, we’re here with the practical, emotional, and spiritual guidance you need.

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Become a Donor. Save a Life.

Every three minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer like leukemia. For many, their only hope for a cure is a bone marrow transplant. Your selfless bone marrow donations make a huge difference in the lives of people and their families. With your help, our Blood and Marrow Transplant Program can perform more life-saving transplants and help heal bodies, minds, and spirits. Give marrow, find a purpose, and save a life.

National Donor Registry - Be The Match

 

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Embrace Your Full Network of Cancer Care

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Clinical Trials

We believe in making the impossible possible and finding better ways to treat blood diseases more effectively. As one of the country’s most active participants in clinical trials, we never stop working to bring you more treatment options for blood cancers.

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Get A Second Opinion

It's always a good idea to get a second opinion. Our second-opinion experts can help bring clarity and certainty to you and your family.

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Cancer Support Groups

When you’re facing blood cancer, it helps to have a strong support system surrounding you. Connect with patients, survivors, and a compassionate staff who truly understand your concerns.

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