Stem Cell Transplantation
Some patients with leukemia have
stem cell transplantation. A stem cell transplant allows a patient to
be treated with high doses of drugs, radiation, or both. The high doses destroy both leukemia cells
and normal blood cells in the bone marrow.
Later, the patient receives healthy stem cells through a flexible
tube that is placed in a large vein in the neck or chest area. New blood cells
develop from the transplanted stem cells.
There are several types of stem cell transplantation:
Stem cells may come from the patient or from a donor:
Autologous stem cell transplantation—This
type of transplant uses the patient’s own stem cells.
The stem cells are removed from the patient, and the cells may be
treated to kill any leukemia cells present.
The stem cells are frozen and stored.
After the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy,
the stored stem cells are thawed and returned to the patient.
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation—This
type of transplant uses healthy stem cells from a
donor. The patient's brother,
sister, or parent may be the donor.
Sometimes the stem cells come from an unrelated donor. Doctors use blood
tests to be sure the donor’s cells match the patient’s cells.
Syngeneic stem cell transplantation—This type
of transplant uses stem cells from the patient’s
healthy identical twin.
After a stem cell
transplant, patients usually stay in the hospital for several weeks. The health care team protects patients from
infection until the transplanted stem cells begin to produce enough white blood
cells.
These are some questions a
person may want to ask the doctor before having a stem cell transplant:
What kind of stem cell transplant will I have? If I need a donor, how will we find one?
How long will I be in the hospital? What care will I need when I leave the
hospital?
How will we know if the treatment is working?
What are the risks and the side effects? What can we do about them?
What changes in normal activities will be
necessary?
What is my chance of a full recovery? How long will that take?
How often will I need checkups?
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