Staying Ahead of Late Effects: 2023 Survivorship Guidelines for Transplant and Cellular Therapy
📖 Episode Description:
In this episode, we explore the 2023 International Survivorship Guidelines for long-term care after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy. With a growing population of survivors, these updated recommendations provide a critical roadmap for monitoring health, catching complications early—especially chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)—and improving long-term outcomes.
You’ll learn:
Why these guidelines were updated now, reflecting major advances in treatment and survivorship since 2012, with a stronger focus on global applicability and patient advocacy.
How the guidelines emphasize early recognition of cGVHD as a way to prevent serious long-term complications—connecting directly to the Engraft Learning Network’s mission of improving early detection.
Key screening recommendations across all major body systems:
Oral: Ask about dry mouth, pain, white patches, and see a dentist regularly.
Eyes: Watch for dryness, light sensitivity, and vision changes—early referrals to ophthalmologists are critical.
Lungs: Regular pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are recommended, even before symptoms appear.
Gastrointestinal: Don’t ignore swallowing difficulties or new digestive symptoms.
Skin: Regular self-checks and dermatologist visits for new rashes, tightness, or color changes.
Fascia and Joints: Monitor flexibility and movement for early signs of tightness or stiffness.
Sexual Health: Normalize conversations about urogenital symptoms and sexual wellness starting 3–6 months post-transplant.
How this connects with other tools and strategies you've learned about in this series:
Using the Lee Symptom Scale to systematically track and report symptoms.
Applying Dr. Paul Carpenter’s comprehensive assessment approach to efficiently evaluate patients.
Leveraging early detection strategies from the 2020 Early Diagnosis Report to intervene before irreversible damage occurs.
How patients and caregivers play a vital role in early detection, using these guidelines as a conversation starter with their care teams and helping to shape future improvements through initiatives like the Engraft Learning Network Design Session.