Bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, July 2009.
Answers to questions about bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- What will happen if I get graft versus host disease (GVHD)?
- How is the bone marrow removed from a donor?
- Why would someone whose immune system has completely failed need a bone marrow transplant?
What will happen if I get graft versus host disease (GVHD)?
GVHD is a problem that can happen up to six months after a bone marrow transplant. In some people it causes minor symptoms and in others it can be very serious or even life-threatening.
Explanation
If you receive stem cells from a donor, the new cells can sometimes start to attack your body, especially your lungs, skin or digestive system. This can sometimes be an advantage because the new cells also attack any remaining cancer cells.
GVHD affects people differently. In some people, it causes minor symptoms and in others it can cause:
- severe skin rashes
- shortness of breath
- feeling sick and vomiting
- diarrhoea
- muscle weakness
- yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
Your doctor will monitor you carefully in the weeks and months after having a bone marrow transplant. If you develop GVHD, you will usually have a small sample of tissue (biopsy) taken from the affected area to confirm diagnosis. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to weaken or switch off (suppress) your new immune system.
If GVHD affects your lungs or digestive system, it will do so soon after your transplant. If it affects your skin, it may cause long-term problems. Your skin may become tighter with less elasticity and you may suffer from skin rashes. Your doctor may advise you to stay out of the sun.
Having GVHD doesn't mean that the transplant hasn't worked. In fact, people who have some GVHD are often less likely to have a relapse.
Sources
- Stem cells and bone marrow transplants. Macmillan Cancer Support. www.cancerbackup.org.uk, accessed 4 March 2009
How is the bone marrow removed from a donor?
There are two main methods of harvesting stem cells - either from the bone marrow or from the blood.
Explanation
If stem cells are harvested directly from the bone marrow, the doctor will use a special needle to suck out the stem cells from inside the hip bones, or occasionally the breastbone. The needle will have to be placed in several different areas to collect enough of these cells. The procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthetic.
The area will feel painful and bruised when you wake up and you will probably have to stay in hospital for one to two days to recover. You will feel sore for about a week afterwards but you will be given painkillers.
If stem cells are harvested from the blood (peripheral blood stem cell harvest), medicine is injected into the blood which causes stem cells to be released from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. The stem cells are then given to the recipient. This procedure doesn't need to be done under a general anaesthetic.
More rarely, stem cells from a baby's umbilical cord can be transplanted to a brother or sister. Some hospitals offer parents the chance to collect stem cells from a baby's umbilical cord, which are then stored. Although the number of cord blood cells available is small, it may become a more common procedure in the future. However, at the moment the process is still being tested.
Further information
- National Blood Service
0845 771 1711
www.blood.co.uk
Sources
- Stem cells from a donor. Macmillan Cancer Support. www.cancerbackup.org.uk, accessed 4 March 2009
- British bone marrow registry Q&As. National Blood Service. www.blood.co.uk, accessed 4 March 2009
Why would someone whose immune system has completely failed need a bone marrow transplant?
A bone marrow transplant gets the recipient's immune system functioning properly again.
Explanation
The bone marrow is a spongy substance in the centre of bones. It contains stem cells that mature into different types of blood cells, including white cells. The white blood cells are a major part of your immune system. They are involved in spotting 'foreign' or different cells in the body, such as bacteria or viruses, and co-ordinating the attack against them. This is what helps protect your body from infection.
Certain illnesses can affect your bone marrow and destroy the stem cells. Your body can't replace the blood cells it needs to function properly and a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant is needed to survive. However, not all conditions or diseases that damage the immune system can be treated with a bone marrow transplant.
Sources
- Hoffbrand AV, Moss PAH, Pettit JE. Essential haematology. 5th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2006
Related topics
- Bone marrow or stem cell transplant
- Cancer - an overview
- Chemotherapy
- Leukaemia - an overview
- Radiotherapy
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: July 2009
Bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation factsheet
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