What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into your body to replace bone marrow that's not producing enough healthy blood cells. A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant.

You might need a bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow stops working and does not produce enough healthy blood cells.

Bone marrow transplants may use cells from your own body (autologous transplant) or from a donor (allogeneic transplant).

​

Why it is done?

A bone marrow transplant may be used to:

• Safely allow treatment with high doses of chemotherapy or radiation by replacing or rescuing the bone marrow damaged by the treatment

• Replace bone marrow that's not working properly with new stem cells

• Provide new stem cells, which can help kill cancer cells directly

Bone marrow transplants can benefit people with a variety of both cancerous and noncancerous diseases, including:

• Acute leukemia

• Adrenoleukodystrophy

• Aplastic anemia

• Bone marrow failure syndromes

• Chronic leukemia

• Hemoglobinopathies

• Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Immune deficiencies

• Inborn errors of metabolism

• Multiple myeloma

• Myelodysplastic syndromes

• Neuroblastoma

• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Plasma cell disorders

• POEMS syndrome

• Primary amyloidosis

​

Types of Bone Marrow Transplant

There are two types of Bone Marrow Transplant-

• Allogeneic stem cell transplant- An allogeneic stem cell transplant uses healthy blood stem cells from a donor to replace bone marrow that's not producing enough healthy blood cells. An allogeneic stem cell transplant is also called an allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

  A donor may be a family member, an acquaintance or someone you don't know. The blood stem cells used in an allogeneic stem cell transplant can be:

  
  

  • Collected from the donor's blood

  • Collected from the bone marrow within a donor's hipbone

  • Collected from the blood of a donated umbilical cord

  Before undergoing an allogeneic stem cell transplant, you'll receive high doses of chemotherapy or radiation to destroy your diseased cells and prepare your body for the donor cells.

• Autologous stem cell transplant- An autologous stem cell transplant uses healthy blood stem cells from your own body to replace bone marrow that's not working properly. An autologous stem cell transplant is also called an autologous bone marrow transplant.

  Using cells from your own body during your stem cell transplant offers some advantages over stem cells from a donor. For example, you don't need to worry about incompatibility between the donor's cells and your own cells if you have an autologous stem cell transplant.

  
  

  An autologous stem cell transplant might be an option if your body is producing enough healthy bone marrow cells. Those cells can be collected, frozen and stored for later use.

  
  

​

What are the risks of a Bone Marrow transplant?

A bone marrow transplant can pose numerous risks. Some people experience minimal problems with a bone marrow transplant, while others can have serious complications that require treatment or hospitalization. Sometimes complications are life-threatening.

Your risks depend on many factors, including the disease or condition that caused you to need a transplant, the type of transplant, your age and your overall health.

Possible complications from a bone marrow transplant include:

• Graft-versus-host disease (a complication of allogeneic transplant only)

• Stem cell (graft) failure

• Organ damage

• Infections

• Cataracts

• Infertility

• New cancers

• Death

Your health care provider can explain your risk of complications from a bone marrow transplant. Together you can weigh the risks and benefits to decide whether a bone marrow transplant is right for you.

Graft-versus-host disease: A potential risk when stem cells come from donors

If you receive a transplant that uses stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be at risk of developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This condition occurs when the donor stem cells that make up your new immune system see your body's tissues and organs as something foreign and attack them.

GVHD may happen at any time after your transplant. Many people who have an allogeneic transplant get GVHD at some point. The risk of GVHD is greater if the stem cells come from an unrelated donor. But GVHD can happen to anyone who gets a bone marrow transplant from a donor.

There are two kinds of GVHD: acute and chronic. Acute GVHD usually happens during the first months after your transplant. It typically affects your skin, digestive tract or liver. Chronic GVHD typically develops later and can affect many organs.

Chronic GVHD signs and symptoms include:

• Joint or muscle pain

• Shortness of breath

• Persistent cough

• Vision changes, such as dry eyes

• Skin changes, including scarring under the skin or skin stiffness

• Rash

• Yellowing of the skin and the whites of your eyes

• Dry mouth

• Mouth sores

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Vomiting

​

How you prepare?

Pretransplant tests and procedures

A series of tests and procedures can assess your general health and the status of your condition. The tests and procedures also ensure that you're physically prepared for the transplant. The evaluation may take several days or more.

In addition, a long, thin tube (intravenous catheter) will be implanted into a large vein in your chest or neck. The catheter, often called a central line, usually remains in place for the duration of your treatment. Your transplant team will use the central line to infuse the transplanted stem cells, medications and blood products into your body.

Collecting stem cells for autologous transplant

If a transplant using your own stem cells (autologous transplant) is planned, you'll undergo a procedure called apheresis (af-uh-REE-sis) to collect blood stem cells.

Before apheresis, you'll receive daily injections of growth factor to increase stem cell production and move stem cells into your circulating blood so that they can be collected.

During apheresis, blood is drawn from a vein and circulated through a machine. The machine separates your blood into different parts, including stem cells. These stem cells are collected and frozen for future use in the transplant. The remaining blood is returned to your body.

Collecting stem cells for allogeneic transplant

If you're having a transplant using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you'll need a donor. Once a donor is found, stem cells are gathered from that person for the transplant.

Stem cells can come from your donor's blood or bone marrow. Your transplant team decides which is better for you based on your situation.

Another type of allogeneic transplant uses stem cells from the blood of umbilical cords (cord blood transplant). Mothers can choose to donate umbilical cords after their babies' births. The blood from these cords is frozen and stored in a cord blood bank until needed for a bone marrow transplant.

The conditioning process

After completing the pretransplant tests and procedures, you'll begin a process known as conditioning. During conditioning, you'll undergo chemotherapy and possibly radiation to:

• Destroy cancer cells if you're being treated for cancer that may spread to other parts of the body

• Suppress your immune system

• Prepare your bone marrow for the new stem cells

The type of conditioning process you receive depends on several factors, including the disease being treated, your overall health and the type of transplant planned. You may have both chemotherapy and radiation or just one of these treatments as part of your conditioning treatment.

Side effects of the conditioning process can include:

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Hair loss

• Mouth sores or ulcers

• Infection

• Bleeding

• Infertility or sterility

• Anemia

• Fatigue

• Cataracts

• Organ complications, such as heart, liver or lung failure

You may be able to take medications or other measures to reduce such side effects.

Reduced-intensity conditioning

Based on your age and health history, you may receive lower doses or different types of chemotherapy or radiation for your conditioning treatment. This is called reduced-intensity conditioning.

Reduced-intensity conditioning kills some cancer cells and suppresses your immune system. Then, the donor's cells are infused into your body. Donor cells replace cells in your bone marrow over time. Immune factors in the donor cells may then fight your cancer cells.

​

What you can expect?

During your bone marrow transplant

Your bone marrow transplant occurs after you complete the conditioning process. On the day of your transplant, stem cells are infused into your body through your central line.

The transplant infusion is painless. You'll be awake during the procedure.

After your bone marrow transplant

When the new stem cells enter your body, they travel through your blood to your bone marrow. In time, they multiply and begin to make new, healthy blood cells. This is called engraftment. It usually takes several weeks before the number of blood cells in your body starts to return to the standard range. In some people, it may take longer.

In the days and weeks after your bone marrow transplant, you'll have blood tests and other tests to monitor your condition. You may need medicine to manage complications, such as nausea and diarrhea.

After your bone marrow transplant, you'll remain under close medical care. If you're experiencing infections or other complications, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days or longer. Depending on the type of transplant and the risk of complications, you'll need to remain near the hospital for several weeks to months to allow close monitoring.

You may also need periodic transfusions of red blood cells and platelets until your bone marrow begins producing enough of those cells on its own.

You may be at greater risk of infections or other complications for months to years after your transplant. For the rest of your life, you'll meet regularly with your health care provider to check for late complications.

If your bone marrow transplant is using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be given immuno suppressants to help prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and reduce your immune system's reaction.

After your transplant, it takes time for your immune system to recover.

Diet and other lifestyle factors

After your bone marrow transplant, you may need to adjust your diet to stay healthy and to prevent excessive weight gain. Your nutrition specialist (dietitian) and other members of your transplant team will work with you to create a healthy-eating plan that meets your needs and complements your lifestyle. Your dietitian can also give you food suggestions to control side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as nausea.

Your dietitian can also give you food suggestions to control side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as nausea.

After your bone marrow transplant, regular physical activity helps you control your weight, strengthen your bones, increase your endurance, strengthen your muscles and keep your heart healthy. As you recover, you can slowly increase your physical activity.

Taking steps to prevent cancer is even more important after your transplant. Don't smoke. Wear sunscreen when you're outside, and be sure to get recommended cancer screenings.

Why Choose Apollo Healthcare?

Established by Dr Prathap C Reddy in 1983, Apollo Healthcare has a robust presence across the healthcare ecosystem. From routine wellness & preventive health care to innovative life-saving treatments and diagnostic services, Apollo Hospitals has touched more than 120 million lives from over 120 countries, offering the best clinical outcomes.

• 7,000+ Healing HandsLargest network of the world’s finest and brightest medical experts who provide compassionate care using outstanding expertise and advanced technology.

• 4,000+ PharmaciesApollo Pharmacy is India’s first, largest and most trusted branded pharmacy network, with over 4000 plus outlets covering the entire nation

• Most Advanced Healthcare TechnologyApollo Hospitals has been the pioneer in bringing ground-breaking healthcare technologies to India.

• Best Clinical OutcomesLeveraging its vast medical expertise & technological advantage, Apollo Hospitals has consistently delivered best in class clinical outcomes.

​

Apollo 24|7 is the largest multi-channel digital healthcare platform in India, created with a vision of eliminating flexibility blockages from the healthcare industry. We believe in making healthcare affordable to everyone by combining analytic excellence, affordable cost, and extensive research with advanced technology. Apollo 24|7 is a single online platform where you have access to a wide range of services such as online pharmacy, online doctor consultations, and diagnostic lab tests at home. We also provide expert solutions for chronic conditions and COVID-care with a secured digital vault, where you can safely upload all your medical reports. 

The Smart Choice for Your Health is Here

Make the best decision for your health by choosing Apollo 24|7. Here’s why you can count on us:

• 36 years of legacy in the healthcare industry

• 24x7 availability of doctors

• More than 3.5 million diagnostic tests each year

• 700+ collection centres and 100+ laboratories

• High quality and affordable diagnostic solutions 

• Fast and accurate test report results

• Several medical specialties under one roof

• Online prescriptions - available anytime, anywhere

• Order medicines and book tests online with ease

• Digitised health queries

Ask a Doctor Online 24/7

Online doctor consultations take place through online doctor chat, call, or video call. This helps you to talk to doctors online from the comfort of your home by simply choosing a doctor from different specialties. Avail personalised solutions for any health problem with prompt online doctor consultation with Apollo 24|7.

• Safe and secure platform

• Affordable rates

• Video and chat options

Online Doctor Consultation - Now at Your FingertipsThe demand for doctors is expected to increase as new medicines allow people to live longer. However, there are several ways to reach out to a doctor without the need to visit a hospital or clinic, all thanks to technology. With the online facility available, doctor consultations have become easier, and you can get the right health care. Online doctor consultations with 4000+ top medical doctors are available at Apollo 24|7. Video call or chat with expert doctors from 100+ medical specialties, including | Dermatology | Gynaecology | Paediatrics | Psychiatry | General Physicians | Gastroenterology | Dietetics | Ent Specialists | and more, in just 15 minutes.

Benefits of choosing online doctor consultations:

• Save time, money, and effort.

• No need to travel. 

• Most convenient option to choose from, and helps in early diagnosis.

• Online doctor consultations are confidential and safe.

• No risks of infections.

Apollo 24|7 is a part of Apollo Hospitals. Apollo Hospitals was established in 1983 by Dr. Prathap C Reddy. It incorporates over 10,000 beds across 70 hospitals, over 4000 pharmacies, 172 primary care and diagnostic clinics, and 148 telemedicine facilities spread across 13 countries. Apollo Hospitals has touched billions of lives by offering exceptional clinical outcomes.

Milestones of Apollo Hospitals:

• 36 Years of legacy and credibility in the healthcare industry. 

• NABL certified multi-channel digital healthcare platform.

• World’s best medical specialists.

• Largest & trusted branded healthcare network.

• Advanced healthcare technology.

Pharmacy Simplified with Apollo 24|7

Apollo pharmacy is the most credible and established online pharmacy in India. It delivers 100% original medicines and products. Apollo pharmacy is believed to offer super-fast home delivery for all the healthcare essentials. Explore our broad range of medicines or over-the-counter medicines and products such as baby care, personal care, wellness, lifestyle, health, and nutrition categories online with ease. 

Rapid deliveries of medicines are available online at Apollo Pharmacy. In some cities, deliveries are done in less than 24 hours.

• Get health credits on purchasing medicines and products.

• Alluring deals on medicines and other products.

• A broad range of medicines and essential healthcare products to choose from.

• Prescriptions are uploaded directly.

• Authentic and top-notch quality products.

Convenient Diagnostic Lab Tests at Home

Regular health check-ups are vital for a healthy life because it helps in detecting diseases at the earliest, following a timely treatment. Apollo 24|7 provides blood sample testing at your doorstep conveniently. You can book lab tests at home and utilise the home-collection facility. We offer a broad range of diagnostic lab tests such as | RT-PCR Test | Renal Profile Test (KFT, RFT) | Hemogram Test | Lipid Profile Test | Thyroid Profile Test (T3 T4 TSH) | D-Dimer Test | Urine Culture Test | Complete Blood Count Test (CBC Test) | Widal Test | Liver Function Test (LFT) | and more.

Top-notch quality diagnostics are critical for the best treatment and personalised patient care.

Here are some simple steps to book a lab test:

• Book online - Select the package or test you want to book.

• Choose home-sample collection option - A qualified phlebotomist visits your home for sample collection at the selected slot time.

• Get fast and accurate blood test reports - download them from the app or website anytime, anywhere!

Find Pathology Labs with Ease at Apollo 24|7Manage your health with prompt health check-ups from Apollo 24|7. We offer an extensive range of laboratory services that deliver factual diagnostic lab test results. You will find the most trusted pathology labs here at Apollo 24|7. 

Other Services Offered by Apollo 24|7

Apollo Circle Membership: Premium Healthcare Program

Apollo 24/7 Circle is an elite membership plan for those who put their overall health and well-being on priority. This membership plan guarantees priority access to Apollo’s best doctors, personalised care, unique deals, and comprehensive wellness programs especially curated by professionals. 

Apollo Prohealth Program Apollo Pro Health Program is an exclusive end-to-end personalised proactive healthcare management program that combines predictive risk assessments and top-notch quality diagnostics with accurate physician checks. Approximately 22 million health checks have been done based on this program. You can count on us for:

• Customised health risk assessments: diagnostic tests designed exclusively for your profile to foresee the health risks.

• Physician-led assessment: designed for customised treatment plans and overall wellness goals.

• Multi-organ assessment: diagnostic tests designed as per your profile with consultations from top specialists and physicians.

• Health instructors: to evaluate your health parameters regularly and help you stay on your path to health and wellness.