Stem Cell Transplant (Peripheral Blood, Bone Marrow, and Cord Blood Transplants)

Here we offer a review of bone marrow transplants and other types of stem cell transplants that are used to treat cancer. We outline what a transplant is like for most people, and discuss some of the issues that come with it. Click on the topics below to get started.

• What we’ll cover here
• What are stem cells and why are they transplanted?
• When do people need stem cell transplants?
• Types of stem cell transplants for treating cancer
• Sources of stem cells for transplant
• Allogeneic transplant: The importance of a matched donor
• What’s it like to donate stem cells?
• Getting rid of cancer cells in autologous transplants
• The transplant process
• Problems that may come up shortly after transplant
• After-transplant problems that may show up later
• Other issues related to transplants
• What questions should I ask my doctor before transplant?
• To learn more
• References