Find the cost of Bone Marrow Transplant

A bone marrow transplant is a specialised medical procedure which involves replacing damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Stem cells are specialised cells that differentiate to form blood and other tissues.

What are the types of bone marrow transplant?

There are broadly 2 types of bone marrow transplant:

• Autologous transplant
  The patient's stem cells are used to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow.
• Allogeneic transplant
  When the stem cells come from another person, who is commonly called a donor.

Why do you need a bone marrow transplant?

A bone marrow transplant is required when the bone marrow has been completely destroyed due to diseases or because of heavy doses of chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Conditions that may lead to bone marrow damage include:

• Leukaemia
• Severe aplastic anaemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Immune deficiency disorders
• Genetic disorders such as Hurler's syndrome and adrenoleukodystrophy

How is a bone marrow transplant carried out?

The common steps involved in a bone marrow transplant are: 

• Pre-transplant evaluation
  1. Consulting the doctor/specialist for advice and to determine exactly what type of bone marrow cells they need. 
  2. Standard blood tests to assess kidney and liver function and check haemoglobin levels 
  3. Imaging tests to determine abnormalities in vital organs
  4. Biopsy
• Surgery 
  1. The surgeon removes the stem cells (called harvesting) and stores them for carrying out the transplant
  2. The patient will have to undergo conditioning treatment which consists of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to kill existing cancer cells and suppress immunity so that the transplant is not rejected
  3. Two days after the conditioning treatment, the transplant is performed, where the doctor injects healthy stem cells into the body through a central line
• Post-operative care 
  1. Daily checkups that involve evaluating blood cells and detecting infections or complications, which will require a few weeks of hospital stay
  2. The patient will be prescribed certain medications such as immunosuppressants after the transplant
  3. The patient may be referred to a physiotherapist and a dietician after the transplant for an exercise and nutrition plan.

What are the risks involved with getting a bone marrow transplant?

Risks to patient:

• GvHD
• Lung damage
• Bone problems
• Infections
• Cataracts
• Internal bleeding
• Risk of developing new cancers
• Infertility

Risks to donor generally arise from adverse reactions from general anaesthesia:

• Post-operative confusion
• Pneumonia
• Stroke
• Heart attack

What does recovery and post-transplant care entail?

• Close monitoring during the first 30 days after a bone marrow transplant for signs that the transfused cells have migrated to the bone marrow and begun producing new, healthy cells
• The patient is housed in a special section of the hospital reserved for bone-marrow transplant recipients, as the immune system will be severely compromised and they cannot be exposed to anything that could cause an infection
• Stick to a nutrient-rich diet, making sure to avoid food and drink that carry a higher risk of infection. 
• Make sure to avoid alcohol and cease smoking altogether
• Limit exposure to sunlight as the skin is quite sensitive after a transplant
• Don’t get tattoo or a body piercing for up to 1 year after the transplant
• Frequent doctor follow-ups to monitor progress, after leaving the hospital

If you think you may be facing long-term issues that could require bone marrow transplant, you may consult a specialist at a medical facility near you and undergo further evaluation to determine whether or not you need to undergo bone marrow transplant.