It is the manufacturing site for stem cells, also called hematopoietic stem cells.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate?
Of these, 4,847 (22%) were unrelated transplants.
Dani Blanchette / EyeEm / Getty Images
One-fifth of these (20%) used bone marrow as the source.
Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant
The Greek prefixauto-means “self.”
In an autologous transplant, the donor is the person who will also receive the transplant.
You then receive high-dosechemotherapyfollowed by an infusion of the thawed out frozen stem cells.
This key in of transplant may be used to treat leukemias, lymphomas, or multiple myeloma.
Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant
The Greek prefixallo-means “different” or “other.”
A half-matched donor is exactly what it sounds like: one who matches exactly half of your tissue traits.
Non-Myeloablative Bone Marrow Transplant
In a non-myeloablative bone marrow transplant, a.k.a.
This approach may be used for someone who is older, or otherwise might not tolerate the traditional procedure.
In this case, the transplant works differently to treat the disease as well.
Other Stem Cell Transplants
A bone marrow transplant is one of three types ofstem cell transplants.
Siblings are suitable donors 25% of the time.
Half-matched donors usually include a person’s mother, father, or child.
Parents are always a half-match for their children.
Siblings have a 50% chance of being a half-match for each other.
Most people between the ages of 18 and 60 who are in good health can become a donor.
TheNational Marrow Donor Program websiteoffers helpful information to get this process started.
Finally, you will have acentral lineimplanted.
It makes it easier for your healthcare providers to administer medications, take blood samples, and perform transfusions.
It will also reduce the number of needle pokes youll need.
The median time to full recovery for a marrow donation is 20 days.
If your cells arrive frozen, the nurse will thaw them in a heated water bath at your bedside.
This preservative will cause your room to have an odor for a day or two.
When ready, the cells are infused through your central line into your bloodstream.
These medications may make you sleepy during the procedure.
Your vital signs will be checked often and you will be closely observed by your nurse.
Low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia) in the blood can lead to internal bleeding.
To prevent this, you will be given immunosuppressive drugs for an indefinite period of time.
These organ toxicities are usually mild, temporary, and reversible.
However, sterility is a potential complication of high-dose chemotherapy.
The normal precautions for avoiding unwanted pregnancies need to be practiced.
Remission refers to a period in which there are no signs or symptoms of cancer.
Some patients will experience a relapse of their disease even after a transplant.
The National Marrow Donor Program has adirectory of transplant centerswith data on each one’s one-year survival rate.
Support and Coping
A bone marrow transplant can be a very physically and emotionally demanding experience.
Health Resources & Services Administration.
Blood Stem Cell.Donation and Transplantation Statistics.
Be the Match.HLA Matching.
Be the Match.Donating Bone Marrow.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Fertility.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Cancer.Net.What is a Stem Cell Transplant (Bone Marrow Transplant)?Updated 01/16.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
