Index
- What is bone marrow transplantation?
- What is bone marrow transplantation?
- Why is it performed?
- Preparation
- Care
What is bone marrow transplantation?
The procedure consists of replacing bone marrow that has been damaged or destroyed with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft, fatty tissue located inside the bones. Bone marrow produces red blood cells and stem cells are immature cells in the bone marrow that give rise to all the different blood cells.
In the lead-up to transplantation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both may be given.
- Ablative treatments: High doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both are given to kill the cancer cells. This will destroy any remaining healthy bone marrow and allow new stem cells to grow in the bone marrow.
- Reduced-intensity treatment also called mini-transplant: lower doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given to the patient prior to transplantation. This will allow elderly people and people with different health problems to undergo a transplant.
What does it consist of?
There are up to three types of bone marrow transplantation:
- Autologous bone marrow transplantation: stem cells are taken from the same patient before receiving high-dose radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment. They are stored in a freezer and after the high-dose radiation or chemotherapy is performed, the stem cells are put back into the patient’s body to create normal blood cells. This is called a rescue transplant.
- Allogeneic bone marrow transplant: Stem cells are taken from another donor. Most of the time, this donor must be a partial genetic match. Blood tests are done to see if a donor is a match for the patient. A brother or sister is more likely to be a match. On the other hand, if unrelated donors are a match, they can be found through national bone marrow registries.
- Cord blood transplantation: Stem cells are taken from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby immediately after birth. These cells are frozen and stored until a transplant is needed. Umbilical cord blood cells are very immature, so there is less need for a match between the patient and the donor.
The three existing types of bone marrow transplantation are: autologous transplantation, allogeneic transplantation and umbilical cord blood transplantation.
Why is the treatment performed?
A bone marrow transplant attempts to replace marrow that is not functioning properly or has been destroyed by radiation or chemotherapy. According to medical professionals, the donor’s white blood cells can attack any cancer cells that remain, thus fighting many types of cancer.
The medical professional may opt for marrow transplantation in the following cases:
- Cancers such as: leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplasia and multiple myeloma.
- A disease that negatively influences the production of bone marrow cells, such as: aplastic anemia, congenital neutropenia, severe diseases of the immune system, sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.
Preparation for the procedure
Before the operation, the patient will undergo various tests, both physical examinations and blood tests. One or two tubes called catheters will be placed into a blood vessel in the neck or arm. This probe will allow the patient to receive liquid treatments, including food, and it will also be used to draw blood. Beforehand, the medical professional will talk to the patient about the emotional stress that may be involved in undergoing a bone marrow transplant. It is also important to talk to your family and children to help them understand what to expect.
Post-procedure care
A bone marrow transplant is performed in a hospital or medical center that specializes in bone marrow transplantation. At the end of the transplant, the patient will remain in the special bone marrow transplant unit at the hospital until the patient’s risk of infection is minimized. Depending on the treatment used and the area where it is performed, it may be done on an outpatient basis. This may reduce the length of hospital stay.
The length of hospitalization will depend on several factors:
- The amount of chemotherapy or radiation received
- The type of transplant
- Your medical center’s procedures