Bone Marrow Transplantation, also known as Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, is a method used in the treatment of blood-related diseases. During this treatment, the patient is given high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The aim of this treatment is to destroy diseased cells, but it can also damage healthy blood cells or blood-related stem cells present in the bone marrow. Therefore, healthy stem cells need to be transplanted into the patient to regenerate the damaged cells. This procedure is called “stem cell transplantation.”
Bone Marrow
Transplantation
Below are various methods of stem cell transplantation:
- Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: The patient’s own healthy stem cells are used.
- Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Healthy cells from a related or unrelated donor are used.
- Syngeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Stem cells are obtained from an identical twin sibling.
- Cord Blood Transplantation: Healthy stem cells obtained from the cord blood of newborn babies are used for transplantation. This method is generally not preferred for adult patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for bone marrow transplantation?
- Patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy or radiation during cancer treatment.
- Blood cancers, especially hematological cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
- Immune system disorders, especially severe immunodeficiency conditions.
- Inherited bone marrow diseases.
- Bone marrow failure or insufficiency conditions.
Which types of cancer are treated with bone marrow transplantation?
Bone marrow transplantation is used in the treatment of certain cancer types such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. The transplant helps in the reconstitution of the patient’s healthy bone marrow cells and aims for long-term health improvement.
How long does the recovery after bone marrow transplantation take?
The recovery period after bone marrow transplantation can vary depending on the individual’s health condition and pre-transplantation status, often extending from several weeks to several months.