Bone Marrow Transplant

In a bone marrow transplant, the patient is treated with high doses of chemotherapy. The body would normally not be able to handle such high doses because the bone marrow and other cells would be destroyed. However, after the high dose cancer treatments, the patient is "saved" with healthy new bone marrow. At times, radiation therapy, in which radiation is given to the entire body, is also used as part of the bone marrow transplant procedure.

There are two kinds of bone marrow transplants: allogeneic and autologous. In an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, the bone marrow from another person, called a donor, is used. Often, the donor is a close relative. Allogeneic transplantation is generally limited to persons less than 55 years of age. In an autologous bone marrow transplant, the person's own bone marrow cells are used. These cells are removed and preserved before the chemotherapy is given.

Patients who get this cancer treatment stay in the hospital for a while. The bone marrow given to the patient after high-dose chemotherapy has to start making enough blood cells before the patient can go home. The period right after the transplant, until the bone marrow starts growing, is when the person is most at risk for complications, such as infection and bleeding. Patients work closely with their doctors and nurses during this time.

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