Bone Marrow Patient Back In Cancer Center

Alana Dung, the toddler bone marrow transplant patient from Hawaii, was readmitted to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center on Tuesday - one day after she had been discharged to the center’s outpatient department.

The 2-year-old, who received a transplant July 18, remains in satisfactory condition, center spokeswoman Susan Edmonds said.

But results of a routine blood test showed bacteria, so she was readmitted for treatment of a potential infection. Bone marrow produces the cells that fight infection, and transplant patients are extremely vulnerable to infection until that cell system returns to normal.

“There is no reason for alarm at this point. Everything is routine,” Edmonds said.

Alana will receive intravenous antibiotic treatment, which usually lasts seven to 10 days.

“We expect her to respond well to the antibiotics,” Edmonds said.

Alana is expected to remain in Seattle for about two months as an outpatient. If all goes well, she will return to Hawaii sometime in late October for continued monitoring by her personal physician, returning to the Hutchinson center for a one-year checkup.

Alana suffered from a rare form of leukemia. She underwent extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatments to remove the diseased cells from her body and to prepare her for the marrow transplant, a procedure similar to a blood transfusion.

The girl received the marrow from an anonymous, unrelated donor from Taiwan - the only person among 30,000 tested who was a perfect match.