Always follow the advice of your care team.
Key Planning Tasks
This section will help you to understand what steps you will need to take and what preparations will need to be made before transplant, including:
Select a Caregiver
You will need to select a caregiver(s) who can help you day-to-day before, during, and after your stem cell transplant. Your caregiver(s) is a necessary part of your care team. Caregivers are often a family member, spouse, or friend. You should have at least one person who can fill this role. However, it can be helpful to have a team of different people who can divide the responsibilities and assist you in different ways or at different times. It is important for you and your caregiver(s) to fully understand the caregiver role.
Your caregiver(s) should be able to help you for up to 100 days after your stem cell infusion with the following tasks:
Your caregiver (and/or team of caregivers) should plan to be involved throughout your transplant recovery, which can last up to 100 days after your stem cell infusion, but may be longer. While their responsibilities may lessen over time, you will want your caregiver(s) available to go with you to follow-up appointments and support your needs at home. If you have multiple caregivers, it’s important that everyone communicate to help manage your care.
Complete a Health Care Proxy Form
A health care proxy form is a legal document that allows adult patients to name someone they trust to speak for them if they cannot make medical decisions on their own. While you will play an active role in your treatment plan, making your own decisions as you review and plan your care options with your care team, there may be a time (due to medical reasons or illness) when you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself.
A health care proxy can ensure your beliefs and values will be heard and followed if you cannot communicate them yourself. As you prepare for your transplant, we encourage you to identify someone who can serve as your health care proxy.
We encourage you to discuss your wishes with your family and your potential health care proxy. Here are some questions to consider:
For more information about a Health Care Proxy, see the insert in the front pocket of this guide, talk with your clinical social worker, or visit dana-farber.org/healthcareproxy.
Schedule Your Pre-Transplant Dental Evaluation
Getting a dental evaluation and appropriate dental treatment is critical to ensuring your overall health before and during your transplant. This is because infections in the mouth and gums can easily spread to the rest of your body. You must see a dentist and have a dental evaluation before your transplant.
Schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible for your pre-transplant dental evaluation (even if you wear dentures). This evaluation includes an examination and dental x-rays and is OK to do even if you have low platelet or white blood cell counts.
Have your dentist complete and return the dental evaluation and dental x-rays to the BWH Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry. Information and instructions are in the dental evaluation packet in the front pocket of this binder.
Pre-Transplant Dental Evaluation: Information for Patients (PDF)
Dental Clearance Program: Information for Dentists (PDF)
Evaluacion dental antes del transplant (PDF)
Programa de autorización dental para pacientes que tiene programado un trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas (PDF)
Completing your dental evaluation and treatment is required. You must have any oral health needs taken care of before you have your stem cell transplant.
IMPORTANT: Insurance Coverage for Dental Evaluation
Make Short-Term Accommodation and Transportation Arrangements
A resource specialist can help you navigate short-term accommodation options (for example, nearby hotels), transportation, parking, and referrals to community-based programs.
Short-Term Accommodations
As you prepare for your transplant, you may need to arrange accommodations for yourself and/or caregivers to stay in Boston during your stem cell transplant. For patients who are admitted to the hospital for their transplant, note that because of infection risks, no one – including your caregiver and any other family member or friend – can stay overnight with you in the hospital.
Short-term accommodations in Boston and the Longwood Medical Area (LMA) are limited and can be expensive. A list of short-term accommodations (hotels, short-term furnished apartments, volunteer host homes, and community living) in the Boston area is included in the Housing Resource Guide inserted in the front pocket of the guide.
Resource: Housing Guide (PDF)
Short-term Accommodations Reminders:
Parking
Parking garages are located at both Dana-Farber and BWH for patients, families, and visitors. Parking rates vary by hospital location, day, time, and length of stay. Wheelchairs are available at the main entrances of both Dana-Farber and BWH.
If you’re worried about paying for parking at Dana-Farber, call your resource specialist at 617-632-3301.
Transportation
If you are unfamiliar with Boston, navigating may be difficult. Your resource specialist (617-632-3301) can help you explore options to help you and your loved ones get around the city and to your appointments.
Prepare Your Home
Because you will be at risk for infection for a period of time after your transplant, you will need to prepare your home to be safe for you. Your home will need to be carefully cleaned. Focus on areas that you will be living in or spending time in after your transplant. For example, do not worry about the attic or your basement if you do not spend time there. Cleaning should focus on the removal of any mold or mildew, especially in the bathroom.
Key preparations include:
Do not start any major construction projects prior to your transplant. These work areas can be dirty and are hard to keep clean. Your return home may be delayed if the project takes longer than expected.
It is important that your home be clean and ready for you immediately following your transplant. While it may be a good idea to have some help with this, a specialized cleaning company is not required.
Resource: Preparing your home for transplant (PDF)
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers for more information.
- Select a Caregiver
- Complete a health care proxy form
- Schedule your pre-transplant dental evaluation
- Make short-term accommodation and transportation arrangements (if needed)
- Prepare your home for transplant
Select a Caregiver
You will need to select a caregiver(s) who can help you day-to-day before, during, and after your stem cell transplant. Your caregiver(s) is a necessary part of your care team. Caregivers are often a family member, spouse, or friend. You should have at least one person who can fill this role. However, it can be helpful to have a team of different people who can divide the responsibilities and assist you in different ways or at different times. It is important for you and your caregiver(s) to fully understand the caregiver role.
Your caregiver(s) should be able to help you for up to 100 days after your stem cell infusion with the following tasks:
- Attend all appointments before, during, and after transplant
- Provide transportation to your appointments
- Take notes and ask questions during your appointments
- Keep track of your symptoms
- Participate in teaching sessions with your care team
- Be available to assist you with recovery after transplant
- Record and refill your medications
- Oversee visitors
- Update your family/friends on your treatment and well-being
- Manage household needs, such as understanding dietary needs and restrictions and ensuring your home is clean
Your caregiver (and/or team of caregivers) should plan to be involved throughout your transplant recovery, which can last up to 100 days after your stem cell infusion, but may be longer. While their responsibilities may lessen over time, you will want your caregiver(s) available to go with you to follow-up appointments and support your needs at home. If you have multiple caregivers, it’s important that everyone communicate to help manage your care.
Complete a Health Care Proxy Form
A health care proxy form is a legal document that allows adult patients to name someone they trust to speak for them if they cannot make medical decisions on their own. While you will play an active role in your treatment plan, making your own decisions as you review and plan your care options with your care team, there may be a time (due to medical reasons or illness) when you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself.
A health care proxy can ensure your beliefs and values will be heard and followed if you cannot communicate them yourself. As you prepare for your transplant, we encourage you to identify someone who can serve as your health care proxy.
We encourage you to discuss your wishes with your family and your potential health care proxy. Here are some questions to consider:
- What are my biggest concerns and fears about the future (related to my illness)?
- What goals are most important to me if my illness progresses?
- How much am I willing to go through to extend my life?
- Are there situations or conditions in which I would not want intensive medical treatment? For example, would I want to be kept alive on a machine? Would I be willing to undergo surgery, even if it would prolong my life only for a short time?
For more information about a Health Care Proxy, see the insert in the front pocket of this guide, talk with your clinical social worker, or visit dana-farber.org/healthcareproxy.
Schedule Your Pre-Transplant Dental Evaluation
Getting a dental evaluation and appropriate dental treatment is critical to ensuring your overall health before and during your transplant. This is because infections in the mouth and gums can easily spread to the rest of your body. You must see a dentist and have a dental evaluation before your transplant.
Schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible for your pre-transplant dental evaluation (even if you wear dentures). This evaluation includes an examination and dental x-rays and is OK to do even if you have low platelet or white blood cell counts.
Have your dentist complete and return the dental evaluation and dental x-rays to the BWH Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry. Information and instructions are in the dental evaluation packet in the front pocket of this binder.
Pre-Transplant Dental Evaluation: Information for Patients (PDF)
Dental Clearance Program: Information for Dentists (PDF)
Evaluacion dental antes del transplant (PDF)
Programa de autorización dental para pacientes que tiene programado un trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas (PDF)
Completing your dental evaluation and treatment is required. You must have any oral health needs taken care of before you have your stem cell transplant.
IMPORTANT: Insurance Coverage for Dental Evaluation
- Pre-transplant dental work is not usually covered by medical insurance.
- You should use your existing dental coverage (if available) or check with your health insurer or financial counselor to determine whether pre-transplant dental screening and treatment (necessary for the transplant) is covered.
- Alert your oncology nurse navigator right away if you do not have dental coverage.
Make Short-Term Accommodation and Transportation Arrangements
A resource specialist can help you navigate short-term accommodation options (for example, nearby hotels), transportation, parking, and referrals to community-based programs.
Short-Term Accommodations
As you prepare for your transplant, you may need to arrange accommodations for yourself and/or caregivers to stay in Boston during your stem cell transplant. For patients who are admitted to the hospital for their transplant, note that because of infection risks, no one – including your caregiver and any other family member or friend – can stay overnight with you in the hospital.
Short-term accommodations in Boston and the Longwood Medical Area (LMA) are limited and can be expensive. A list of short-term accommodations (hotels, short-term furnished apartments, volunteer host homes, and community living) in the Boston area is included in the Housing Resource Guide inserted in the front pocket of the guide.
Resource: Housing Guide (PDF)
Short-term Accommodations Reminders:
- Ask your insurance plan if they offer a housing benefit. Your financial counselor will help you identify and understand the process for obtaining reimbursement for housing benefits that your insurance may cover. Be sure to tell your resource specialist if you have this housing benefit.
- Contact a resource specialist (617-632-3301) if you are worried about short-term accommodations costs. There are a limited number of lower cost accommodations in the area. These options usually have income or other eligibility requirements. They often fill up quickly so we recommend you contact your resource specialist as far in advance of your transplant as possible (even if you don’t yet have your exact dates) to explore reduced rate options. Please note that the resource specialist is not able to assist with permanent housing referrals.
- Begin researching housing options only once you know your transplant date.
Parking
Parking garages are located at both Dana-Farber and BWH for patients, families, and visitors. Parking rates vary by hospital location, day, time, and length of stay. Wheelchairs are available at the main entrances of both Dana-Farber and BWH.
If you’re worried about paying for parking at Dana-Farber, call your resource specialist at 617-632-3301.
Transportation
If you are unfamiliar with Boston, navigating may be difficult. Your resource specialist (617-632-3301) can help you explore options to help you and your loved ones get around the city and to your appointments.
Prepare Your Home
Because you will be at risk for infection for a period of time after your transplant, you will need to prepare your home to be safe for you. Your home will need to be carefully cleaned. Focus on areas that you will be living in or spending time in after your transplant. For example, do not worry about the attic or your basement if you do not spend time there. Cleaning should focus on the removal of any mold or mildew, especially in the bathroom.
Key preparations include:
- Vacuum and dust all rooms.
- Clean under all appliances.
- Remove plants (live and fake) from rooms you will be using.
- Shampoo wall to wall carpets if not done in the past year. Clean area rugs according to their instructions.
- Clean drapes and blinds if not done in the past year.
- If you have well water, have a bacterial study done.
Do not start any major construction projects prior to your transplant. These work areas can be dirty and are hard to keep clean. Your return home may be delayed if the project takes longer than expected.
It is important that your home be clean and ready for you immediately following your transplant. While it may be a good idea to have some help with this, a specialized cleaning company is not required.
Resource: Preparing your home for transplant (PDF)
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers for more information.