Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute’s Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, said to be the first of its kind in the region, is now offering people with certain blood disorders and cancer access to stem cell transplants closer to home than ever before.

“Stem cell transplants are a lifesaving treatment option, but they are also incredibly taxing for those receiving them and their loved ones,” said Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).

“In the past, our community members needed to travel out of the area for this treatment option, spending weeks in an unfamiliar hospital far from their homes. But now, thanks to incredibly generous gifts from Joe and Maureen Topper and Tom and Karin Hall, that is no longer the reality for our patients,” Nester said.

About stem cell transplants

Stem cell transplants are a treatment option for certain blood disorders and cancers, including:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

• Hodgkin lymphoma

• Multiple myeloma

• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

• Myelofibrosis

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Stem cell transplants take place after a patient has received treatments to destroy the diseased cells in their body. Healthy blood-forming stem cells are then infused into the patient to help restore bone marrow destroyed by the treatments given to treat their cancer or other condition.

“While it’s important to provide exceptional care and comfort to all our patients, people needing a stem cell transplant need especially dedicated support. Patients receiving this treatment undergo many types of pre-transplant testing, need to come in for several outpatient appointments and spend weeks in the hospital during their treatment regimen. Having the comfort of their family and community members close by throughout their entire patient journey can make all the difference in their emotional health,” said Suresh Nair, MD, Physician in Chief, Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute.

“It is a true honor to bring this lifesaving treatment option to our community, and it’s another important example of how Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute continues to move the needle forward in cancer care throughout our region,” Nair said.

Specially trained staff members and state-of-the-art facilities

The Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program is led by hematologist Amir Toor, MD, who has more than 20 years of experience with stem cell transplants and vast expertise with cellular therapies for hematologic malignancies.

“Over the last few years, my colleagues and I have been hard at work building a specialized team of physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, social workers, financial counselors and transplant coordinators who are specially trained to care for and support patients undergoing stem cell transplants,” said Toor.

“We’ve also overseen the development of designated spaces for the program, like an apheresis unit where stem cells are collected for transplants, and an inpatient unit specifically designed to keep our patients safe while they are receiving treatment,” Toor said. “It is an honor to bring stem cell transplantation to people in all the communities LVHN serves.”

Allowing people to receive this treatment in their own community is an important step in advancing cancer care throughout the region, and it highlights LVHN’s dedication to increasing comfort and convenience for patients.