How is Bone Marrow Transplant done?

BloodCancerCure

Bone Marrow Transplant is a new and developing procedure which claims to cure certain types of cancer. Although the stakes are high and there are many complications, the resultant cure is believed to be worth it. In order to decide if the procedure is really for us or not, one must know how it is done.

What is the basic concept?

The treatment plan involves giving high doses of Chemotherapy or full body Radiation therapy in order to eliminate all the cancerous cells. Since this would destroy all the stem cells, they are previously harvested from the patient itself or from a suitable donor. Once the cancerous cells are destroyed, the harvested stem cells are re-injected into the patient’s body and there is a formation of healthy, non-cancerous blood cells.

So, how is bone marrow transplant done?

The first step is to collect the stem cells or bone marrow cells. The main difference between a stem cell and bone marrow transplant is that the stem cells are present in the blood plasma and are easier to obtain when compared to bone marrow. Collection of cells can be done from two main sources. If they are collected from the patient itself, it is called autogenous bone marrow transplantation. If it is collected from a donor, it is called allogenic bone marrow transplantation. It can also be collected from the placenta if it has been preserved by the parent.

Before collecting these cells, the patient is medicated with certain drugs which increase the number of stem cells. This drug may cause slight bone pain. 

There are two methods for collecting the donor cells.

·  Though the peripherally available Stem Cells:

The stem cells that are floating in the blood are filtered out. For this, a catheter is inserted into the vein of the patient and the blood is filtered through a device which collects the stem cells. These are frozen until the transplant is done. This procedure might be repeated for a day or two until there are enough cells collected.

·  Through the bone marrow Stem Cells:

The procedure involves a collection of stem cells from the bone marrow by directly removing some of the cells. Since this would be a slightly invasive procedure, the patient is put under general anaesthesia. The stem cells are collected from the hip bone and the procedure does not involve any serious risks. The bone marrow transplant cells are then frozen until time of transplantation.

Once the harvesting is done, the next step can be executed.

The next stage is of destruction of the cancerous cells. As we know, chemotherapy or radiation therapy would kill the cancerous cells. But, along with these cells, the stem cells and the bone marrow cells also would be killed. During this stage, the patient will face all the consequences of chemotherapy like hair loss, weight loss, nausea, bloated sensation etc.

After this stage, the patient will have a period of very low immunity. During this period, the patient is highly prone to all diseases and infections making them highly sensitive. Even something as simple as a common flue could be life-threatening. The patient needs to be extremely cautious and stay in protected environments only.

The patient is then injected with the previously collected bone marrow transplants. It is injected into the bloodstream which later is taken up by the long bones. The transplant is allowed to multiply and form healthy cells. Once the body s capable of producing its own immune system to protect itself, the patient can be released and called periodically for observation.

If the patient has used allogenous transplantation, they must find a suitable donor. If the transplant is being rejected by the body, the patient must be given immunosuppressants. This will suppress the immune system and prevent the self-destruction of the newly transplanted bone marrow.

The procedure is relatively simple, but one needs to understand if the procedure is appropriate for their type of cancer before going in for it.

Also Read: What is the success rate of bone marrow transplantation?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.