Fred Hutchinson LTFU Newsletter
Jan. 20, 2004 (Vol. 1, No. 1)
The LTFU newsletter is sent quarterly to people who have undergone treatment through Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's transplant program.
Read this e-newsletter online at: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/enews/ltfu-enews/2004-01/

Dear Friend of LTFU:

I am very happy to be sending you this first issue of the LTFU Newsletter. It is particularly gratifying to be able to give something back to those of you who have faithfully returned our questionnaires each year. We received hundreds of suggestions for topics you'd like to see covered in this publication. We will do our best to address as many of these topics as we can, and to set priorities for the topics we present, based on your suggestions. Because of the newsletter format, we will be covering the most important aspects of each topic and directing you to additional resources such as web sites, journal articles and other publications for more in-depth information.

Sincerely,
Paul Martin, M.D.
Director, Long-Term Follow-Up


Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are dry eyes a problem after transplant?
Dry and painful eyes are one of the more common complaints mentioned by our LTFU patients. It can be a major problem for people after transplant, especially for those with GVHD. Dry eyes can lead to permanent eye damage.

Read more details at: http://www.fhcrc.org/clinical/ltfu/faqs/dry_eyes.html

2. Is it normal to continue to feel fatigued even after recovering from a transplant?
Yes. Research specific to transplant patients indicates that fatigue is an important quality of life issue and that it persists in many survivors for years after treatment.

Read more detatils at: http://www.fhcrc.org/clinical/ltfu/faqs/fatigue.html

3. What can I do to manage fatigue?
Some tips to managing fatigue include identifying any contributing medical conditions, staying active and establishing an effective sleep/rest schedule.

Read more details at: http://www.fhcrc.org/clinical/ltfu/faqs/fatigue#b


Former Patient Profile
Percy Randle found his true calling — helping others
It's been 20 years since Percy Randle came to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for a bone-marrow transplant and four years since he left. During that time, Randle beat cancer, found his true calling and touched the lives of hundreds of Fred Hutchinson patients and their families by becoming the center's first chaplain.

Read the rest of this patient profile at:
http://www.fhcrc.org/patient/patient_stories/percy.html


Staff Profile
Judy Campbell — default career choice became a lifelong commitment
Judy Campbell says she became a cancer nurse by "default." Now, she can't imagine doing anything else. Campbell has been caring for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center patients for 34 years. She's currently a clinical nurse in the center's LTFU Department, which helps patients deal with their recovery after they leave the hospital.

Read the rest of this staff profile at:
http://www.fhcrc.org/clinical/ltfu/staff.html


Featured Readings
Normal life, 20-30 years later
Transplant patients' newly developed immune systems can function well, says a study of world's longest survivors. Patients surviving 20 to 30 years post-transplant can have normal lives, free of frequent infections. That's the result of a Fred Hutchinson study that, for the first time, evaluated the immunity of long-term bone-marrow and stem-cell transplant survivors.

Read the rest of this article at:
http://www.fhcrc.org/pubs/center_news/2002/jan3/sart1.html


Educational Events
Brown Bag Discussion
This group provides peer support and education to participants. All transplant and returning follow-up patients are welcome to attend and share their experiences. Participation can be in person or by conference call. A faculty member will join us one or two weeks a month to provide insight and education on various aspects of the transplant process. This group is co-facilitated by a clinical social worker and an LTFU nurse. Bring your lunch if pressed for time.

When: Every Thursday from noon to 1:00 pm
Where: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (825 Eastlake Avenue East), room 23 on the 6th floor
Conference Call: To participate in the discussion via conference call, dial 1-602-584-8214. At the prompt, enter 19427#. You will be charged a long distance fee. If you need financial help, we can provide you with a phone card.
Questions? Contact Heather Lucas, LTFU Coordinator at (206) 288-1137
Contact Us
If you have any medical or long-term follow-up questions, call (206) 667-4415.
If you have comments or questions about the newsletter or would like to be added to or deleted from our mailing list, contact Kathy Erne at (206) 667-4745 or by e-mail at ltfunews@fhcrc.org. You are also welcome to subscribe to receive an electronic version of the newsletter via e-mail by visiting http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/enews/ltfu-enews/index.html.



The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of two Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical technology to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases.

For information on Fred Hutchinson's privacy policy, go to:
http://www.fhcrc.org/termsofuse_privacypolicy.html

ISSN 1547-7177
Copyright 2004
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
P.O. Box 19024
Seattle, WA 98109-1024
www.fhcrc.org