Talking with family and friends about blood or marrow transplant

If a parent or guardian will be supporting you during your transplant, remember that they are probably trying to stay strong for you, even while feeling their own emotions. It’s natural for your parents to feel stressed and concerned, but that can make open communication harder, and you may find that they want to protect you in ways that don’t match what you need.

• Being clear about how you would like them to support you, while also taking their concerns into consideration, can help ease tension.
• If the support from a parent or guardian doesn’t look the way you’d hoped, work together to find a solution that works for everyone.

Explaining a transplant to children can feel overwhelming, but being honest and keeping it simple can help them understand while not causing them to worry.

• Reassure them by letting them know you have an entire team of really smart doctors and nurses to care for you.
• Be honest about changes and that you may be more tired than usual, need medicine or have to stay in the hospital.
• Encourage questions and help them learn what they want to know about the process.
• Stick to routines and participate in small activities to help keep them comfortable, even if it’s something as simple as reading a book or drawing.

For many couples, going through BMT together can create a tighter bond. At the same time, the stress and uncertainty of facing blood cancer and transplant can put a strain on your relationship.

If you’re worried about how a transplant may impact your relationship:

• Discuss roles, responsibilities and expectations openly. Clear conversations about how care will be shared can strengthen your partnership and reduce misunderstandings.
• After transplant you may notice changes in your sexual health. Talking openly with your partner can help you reconnect and rebuild intimacy in your relationship.
• If you and your partner hope to have children in the future, it’s important to discuss how transplant may impact your fertility. NMDP offers fertility resources:
  • Fertility and transplant for men (PDF)
  • Fertility and transplant for women (PDF)

A transplant can affect your relationship with your siblings, no matter how close you are. If they aren’t able to be your donor, they may feel disappointed or left out.

Younger siblings may also feel overlooked as your family’s attention shifts to your care and recovery. Taking time to acknowledge their feelings can help them feel valued and included.

Talking openly about how you’d like to support one another before, during and after transplant can create understanding and strengthen your bond through this journey.

Sharing your transplant experience with coworkers can feel complicated. Some may want to support you but aren’t sure how, while others may avoid the topic because they don’t know what to say. When discussing your transplant with coworkers:

• You get to decide how much—or how little—you want to share. It’s okay to set boundaries and let your coworkers know if you’d rather not talk about it.
• Coworkers may also become an important part of your support system. Being open about your needs, such as schedule flexibility or understanding when you’re tired, can help them understand how to support you.
• Every workplace is different, but honest conversations can make it easier to balance your recovery with work. It’s also important to understand all your options when it’s time to return to work.