Physical and psychosocial functioning of adult survivors of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

While prospects for long-term survival following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have increased, little is known about the quality of that survival. The present study was intended to document the physical and psychosocial functioning of survivors of allogeneic BMT as well as identify factors associated with variability in post-BMT functioning. Twenty-three patients who were living at home and were between 3 and 52 months post-BMT completed the Functional Living Index - Cancer and the Profile of Mood States. Results revealed that current functioning varied considerably across patients. The older a patient was at time of transplant, the poorer his current functioning was, particularly in the physical domain. Current functioning was not significantly associated with time since transplant, the diagnosis of acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease, or dose of total body irradiation given as part of BMT conditioning. Despite differences in functional status, however, only one patient indicated that he would not make the same choice again to undergo BMT. Information about the long-term functioning of BMT survivors is critical for the process of obtaining informed consent. Additionally, understanding of factors associated with variability in post-BMT functioning can increase the likelihood that patients will ultimately return to a normal, productive life.