Bone Marrow Transplant?

We met with Dr. Gina Laport today to learn about whether a bone marrow transplant would help Graham. Dr. Laport recommended a new technique, called a double transplant. First Graham would be totally irradiated (or given massive chemo, not sure which) and then have his own bone marrow put back. After a month or so, he would be irradiated again, and then a donor's bone marrow would be transplanted. Graham's brother, Gary, is being tested to see if he is a match, in the event that a BMT is possible. We'll find out in two weeks if he's a match.

We're confused about whether a BMT is possible without the cancer being basically under control. Dr. Advani says that a BMT is not designed to stop a cancer, just to keep it away for a long time, potentially forever. She says that it will not be successful and shouldn't be done unless the cancer is under control. This was very depressing, since Graham's cancer seems uncontrollable.

Dr. Laport (or was it her Fellow, a newish doctor?) says that a transplant can be done even if the cancer isn't under control.

So we're confused.