Bone Marrow Transplantation Summary Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some of your bones, such as your hip and thigh bones. It contains immature cells, called stem cells. The stem cells can develop into red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells, which fight infections, and platelets, which help the blood to clot. A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that replaces a person’s faulty bone marrow stem cells. Doctors use these transplants to treat people with certain diseases, such as Leukemia Severe blood diseases such as thalassemias, aplastic anemia, and sickle cell anemia Multiple myeloma Certain immune deficiency diseases Before you have a transplant, you need to get high doses of chemotherapy and possibly radiation. This destroys the faulty stem cells in your bone marrow. It also suppresses your body’s immune system so that it won’t attack the new stem cells after the transplant. In some cases, you can donate your own bone marrow stem cells in advance. The cells are saved and then used later on. Or you can get cells from a donor. The donor might be a family member or unrelated person. Bone marrow transplantation has serious risks. Some complications can be life-threatening. But for some people, it is the best hope for a cure or a longer life. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Cancer Institute Videos and Tutorials Becoming a Blood Stem Cell Donor National Cancer Institute Start Here Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Blood-Forming Stem Cell Transplants National Cancer Institute Finding a Donor National Marrow Donor Program Understanding Bone Marrow Transplantation as a Treatment Option Health Resources and Services Administration What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant? National Marrow Donor Program Array Bone marrow (stem cell) donation Bone marrow transplant Bone marrow transplant – discharge Bone-marrow transplant – slideshow NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Bone Marrow Transplants: “Another Possibility at Life” National Marrow Donor Program and Be The Match Registry What Happens during a Bone Marrow Transplant? Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Bone Marrow Transplantation National Institutes of Health Specifics Donation FAQs National Marrow Donor Program What to Expect during a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Who Needs a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Encyclopedia Graft-versus-host disease Related Issues Graft-Versus-Host-Disease National Marrow Donor Program Learning about Your Disease National Marrow Donor Program Physical Health National Marrow Donor Program Planning for a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Health Resources and Services Administration Transplant Considerations National Marrow Donor Program Treatment Before Transplant National Marrow Donor Program What Are the Risks of a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute What to Expect Before a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Statistics and Research How to Understand Transplant Center Statistics National Marrow Donor Program Transplant Outcomes (Bone Marrow and Cord Blood) Health Resources and Services Administration Understanding Outcomes Data National Marrow Donor Program Living With Life After Transplant National Marrow Donor Program Staying Healthy National Marrow Donor Program What to Expect After a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Find an Expert National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Journal Articles Bone Marrow Transplantation
