The diseases and disorders treated with bone marrow transplant include:

Leukaemias – Acute Myelogenous Leukaemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia (CML), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

Lymphomas – Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma and other Plasma Cell Disorders

Myelodysplastic Syndromes – Refractory Anaemia, Refractory Anaemia with Excess Blasts, Refractory Cytopenias etc.

Thalassaemia Major

Severe Aplastic Anaemia

Inherited Immune System Disorders

Inherited Metabolic Disorders

What Is A Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)?

A BMT or a Stem Cell Transplant, at its most basic level, is a potentially lifesaving procedure. It involves the destruction of any unhealthy blood cells and replacement with stem cells removed from the blood or bone marrow. These new healthy stem cells can then make new and healthy blood cells.

Stem Cells are special cells that are produced by the bone marrow – a spongy, gelatinous tissue found in the centre of some bones. These stem cells can replicate itself or differentiate into many different types of blood cells – white blood cells which fight infection, red blood cells which carry oxygen and platelets with aid in blood clotting.

What Are The Different Types Of BMT?

Depending on the donor of the stem cells, a BMT or a Stem Cell Transplant is of the following types:

Autologous Transplant – the patient donates his/ her own stem cells prior to the treatment for reinfusion later

the patient donates his/ her own stem cells prior to the treatment for reinfusion later Allogeneic Related Transplant – the person donating the stem cells is a biologically-related family member (usually a brother or sister)

the person donating the stem cells is a biologically-related family member (usually a brother or sister) Allogeneic Unrelated Transplant – the person donating the stem cells is not related to the patient but has been adequately tissue-matched

the person donating the stem cells is not related to the patient but has been adequately tissue-matched Syngeneic Transplant – the person donating the stem cells is an identical twin.

What Does A BMT/ Stem Cell Transplant Involve?

A BMT can be an intensive and a challenging experience – the patient would need to stay in hospital for a month or more until the transplant starts to take effect and it can take a year or two to fully recover.

A BMT is a long and complicated process that involves five main stages:

Tests & Examinations – to assess the general level of health of the patient The tests might include an Electrocardiogram (ECG), an Echocardiogram, an X-Ray, a CT Scan and a Complete Blood Count (CBC)

to assess the general level of health of the patient The tests might include an Electrocardiogram (ECG), an Echocardiogram, an X-Ray, a CT Scan and a Complete Blood Count (CBC) Harvesting – the process of obtaining the stem cells to be used in the transplant, either from the patient or a donor. There are three main ways stem cells can be harvested – from the blood, from the bone marrow or from the cord blood.

the process of obtaining the stem cells to be used in the transplant, either from the patient or a donor. There are three main ways stem cells can be harvested – from the blood, from the bone marrow or from the cord blood. Conditioning – treatment with chemotherapy and/ or radiotherapy to prepare the body for the transplant. This helps destroy existing bone marrow cells, destroy any existing cancer cell and to stop the immune system from working to reduce the risk of the transplant getting rejected.

treatment with chemotherapy and/ or radiotherapy to prepare the body for the transplant. This helps destroy existing bone marrow cells, destroy any existing cancer cell and to stop the immune system from working to reduce the risk of the transplant getting rejected. Transplanting the stem cells – It is usually carried out a day or two after conditioning has finished. The stem cells are passed slowly in the body through the central venous line and the entire process takes around a couple of hours.

It is usually carried out a day or two after conditioning has finished. The stem cells are passed slowly in the body through the central venous line and the entire process takes around a couple of hours. Recovery – Once the transplant is finished, the patient will need to stay in hospital for a few weeks to allow the stem cells to settle in the bone marrow and start producing new blood cells.

What Are Risks Of A BMT?

Since a BMT is a complicated procedure, there are significant risks involved with it. However, younger people who don’t have any other serious conditions or those who receive transplants from a closely matched sibling are less likely to experience serious problems. Patients receiving transplants of their own stem cells (autologous transplants) are also less likely to experience serious side effects.

The main risks associated with a BMT are:

Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) – this occurs in Allogeneic Transplants when the transplanted cells start to attack the other cells in the body

Reduced Number of Blood Cells – this can lead to Anaemia, infection, bleeding.

Chemotherapy Side Effects – including sickness, tiredness, hair loss, infertility, mouth ulcers, loss of appetite, diarrhea, rashes.

Some Of The Myths Associated With A BMT: