In this episode of Cancer Survivor MD, Josie van Londen and Brad Buchanan interview Dr. Fred Appelbaum of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center about his book Living Medicine and the history—and humanity—behind bone marrow transplantation, the breakthrough that paved the way for today’s cell and gene therapies.
Appelbaum explains what transplantation is and how it works, reflects on his path into the field and mentorship under pioneer Don Thomas, and addresses the early ethical dilemmas, medical skepticism, and later legal scrutiny that shaped standards for transparency.
Brad adds the patient perspective through his own transplant and graft-versus-host disease experience, including discussion of treatments like photopheresis and newer GVHD therapies.
The conversation closes by looking ahead to the next era.
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