Bone marrow transplant or hematopoietic stem cell transplant is often used to treat patients with leukemia or lymphoma, because these cancers are caused by cancerous hematopoietic stem cells, or cells that give rise to blood cells, which divide faster than normal stem cells.¹

During a transplant, the cancerous stem cells in the bone marrow are first destroyed with high doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They are then replaced by healthy normal stem cells to restore bone marrow function.¹

Stem cells may come from:¹

• The patient's own previously collected stem cells (autologous transplant)
• A family member or unrelated volunteer donor (allogeneic transplant)

Stem cells may be collected from:¹

• The bone marrow (this is called a bone marrow transplant)
• Circulating blood (this is called a peripheral blood stem cell transplant)

The most serious side effects of bone marrow or stem cell transplant are infection and bleeding. In order to reduce side effects, healthcare professionals usually select stem cells from a donor that are closely matched to the patient. Immunosuppressant drugs may also be used to reduce the risk of a condition called graft-versus-host disease.¹

In addition to bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy is another way to treat cancer. Learn more about treating cancer with chemotherapy.

Understanding Cancer – Chemotherapy Side Effects – Treating Cancer in Other Ways
Tracking Your Test Results – Understanding Insurance and Tax Issues
Chemotherapy Resources and Organizations – Register for Programs