This topic will help you understand stem cell transplantation and how to prepare for it.
What Is a Stem Cell Transplantation Procedure?
This is a procedure where a patient receives healthy stem cells to replace stem cells that have been destroyed for several reasons, such as cancers affecting the bone marrow, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.
There are several types of stem cell transplantation depending on the source of the stem cells, such as:
Peripheral stem cell transplantation.
Umbilical cord blood transplantation.
From bone marrow.
Stem cell transplantation is usually either from a related donor, an unrelated donor, or from the same patient (using the patient's previously collected stem cells).
When Is Stem Cell Transplantation Performed?
Bone marrow transplantation is performed when other treatment options are ineffective based on the need and the patient's health condition, and the transplant is conducted to treat:
Certain types of cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
Bone marrow damage due to radiation or chemotherapy.
Bone marrow failure conditions, such as aplastic anemia.
Certain blood diseases, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.
How Do You Prepare for Stem Cell Transplantation?
Stem cell transplantation is usually performed intravenously and is preceded by several procedures, include:
Assessing the patient's health condition through:
Clinical examination and medical history.
Electrocardiogram (ECG).
Echocardiogram.
X-rays or CT scans.
Laboratory blood tests.
Cancer patients may need to undergo a biopsy for cancerous cells.
Tissue matching and blood type of the patient and donor.
Conditioning treatment to prepare the body before transplantation, which includes:
Exposure to high doses of chemotherapy or radiation is used to reduce the chance of the body's rejection of the transplant, to make room for new cells in the bone, and to destroy cancerous cells.
Medication.
In most cases, conditioning treatment is administered over a period of up to a week before stem cell transplantation, and transplantation usually occurs two days after receiving the treatment.
