Table of Contents
- 1 What is a Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant?
- 2 What are Stem Cells?
- 3 What are the different types of transplant?
- 4 What are the different types of transplant?
- 5 What are the differences between blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant?
- 6 What is the recovery process after a stem cell transplant?
- 7 What should you consider before a stem cell transplant?
- 8 FAQs
What is a Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant?

Stem cell transplants are used in the treatment of cancers such as leukaemia, myeloma, lymphoma, and other blood or immune system diseases that affect the bone marrow.
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A stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant or a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, is a medical procedure that replaces your bone marrow with healthy stem cells. These cells either come from your own body or are taken from a donor.
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What are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are cells present in the bone marrow that have the unique ability to grow into the blood cells that your body requires to function. Blood stem cells grow into different blood cells, which include red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets:
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Red blood cells
These make up the bulk of your blood. Your red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. If you have insufficient red blood cells, you may be anaemic.
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White blood cells
The white blood cells fight pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. They make up a part of your immune system.
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Platelets
Your platelets help to form clots and stop bleeding.
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Cancer and cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, may damage your blood stem cells which will affect the normal production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
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What are the different types of transplant?

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
The stem cells used for an autologous transplant are collected from your own body. This is sometimes done because intensive chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment can damage your stem cells and immune system. Therefore, doctors may remove and store stem cells prior to your cancer treatment.
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After chemotherapy, these stem cells are returned to your body to help build and restore your immune system and body’s ability to produce blood cells and fight infection.
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What are the different types of transplant?

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
The stem cells used for an autologous transplant are collected from your own body. This is sometimes done because intensive chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment can damage your stem cells and immune system. Therefore, doctors may remove and store stem cells prior to your cancer treatment.
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After chemotherapy, these stem cells are returned to your body to help build and restore your immune system and body’s ability to produce blood cells and fight infection.
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What is An Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation?
Video from: Centre for Clinical Haematology
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What is an Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant?
Video from: Centre for Clinical Haematology
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Finding a Suitable Donor for An Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant
Video from: Centre for Clinical Haematology
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What are the differences between blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant?

Both blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants produce the same result. A patient will receive stem cells in the same way. The difference between the two comes from how the cells are extracted from the donor.
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With most donations, the stem cells are collected from a donor’s bloodstream through a process called peripheral blood stem cell collection (PBSC). Their blood passes through a small tube and into a machine that collects the stem cells. The rest of the blood is then returned to the body. The process is similar to donating blood; however, it takes longer.
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While most donations are done through PBSC, others are done through the collection of a donor’s bone marrow in a surgical procedure. A needle is used to extract the bone marrow from the donor’s pelvis while they are under general anaesthesia. A patient receiving cells from a donor extracted by this method would be considered to be having a bone marrow transplant.
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The method chosen depends on the condition being treated and factors such as the patient’s health and age. The transplant doctor will advise you as to which method is best suited to your condition.
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What is the recovery process after a stem cell transplant?

Once the donor cells have engrafted and you have recovered from your stem cell transplant, you will be discharged home.
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After the transplant, you will be monitored very closely with regular visits to the post-transplant clinic.
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During the initial recovery period, you are at high risk of infection as your immune system will be suppressed and will take time to regain its normal function. You will need to be monitored closely for infections and will receive antibiotics and antivirals to reduce the risk of infection. Our doctors and nurses will advise you on how to prevent infection, as well as how to watch for signs of infections.
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Patients who have had an allogeneic stem cell transplant are also at higher risk of developing a condition called Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). This occurs when the donor cells grow too aggressively and attack the cells in the patient’s body. GVHD can be mild, moderate or severe. Your transplant team will be monitoring you for signs of GVHD very carefully and will give you drugs both to prevent and manage GVHD.
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During this recovery period, you will have blood tests and bone marrow tests at regular intervals to monitor your condition and to see how well you have responded to the transplant. You may occasionally require blood and platelet transfusions if your blood counts are low.
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What should you consider before a stem cell transplant?

Our doctors will recommend the transplant option best suited for you based on several factors.
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Factors to be considered in your pre-transplant assessment include your disease type, your response to treatment as far, your age and your general health.
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The whole transplant procedure is long and involves approximately a one-month in-patient admission, followed by a prolonged recovery phase. While our transplant team will be here to support you as best as possible through your journey, it is always important to identify family members and/or caregivers who can be there to support you along the way too.
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FAQs | View All FAQs | ||
• | How do you know if you need a bone marrow transplant? A bone marrow transplant, which is also known as a stem cell transplant, is used in the treatment of various cancers. Advanced forms of leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, along with other blood disorders, are often treated with a bone marrow transplant. Our doctor will speak to you about your recommended treatment plan and if a bone marrow transplant is necessary for you. | ||
• | What is the cut off age for a bone marrow transplant? Generally, patients above 60 years of age are considered with greater care and assessment before transplantation. However, there is no specific upper age limit for bone marrow transplantation. Your suitability for transplantation will mainly depend on your overall physical status, as well as your underlying disease status. . Our transplant team at CFCH will take all factors into account and have an open and frank discussion about the risks and benefits of bone marrow transplantation on a case-to-case basis. | ||
• | How serious is a bone marrow transplant? A bone marrow transplant is a major medical procedure. It offers a potential curative option for some severe forms of haematological conditions such as acute leukaemia. Our doctor will work with you to determine if a bone marrow transplant is a suitable treatment option for your condition. Both the risks and benefits will be weighed. Our doctor will also explain to you the potential complications and the seriousness of each. | ||
• | How long does it take to know if a bone marrow transplant is successful? In order for doctors to determine if your bone marrow transplant is successful, your blood count levels need to return to normal along with your immune system. This can take between 6 to 12 months. Our transplant team will continue to monitor you during this period for any issues that may surface. | ||
• | What is the average cost of a bone marrow transplant? The cost of a bone marrow transplantation depends on severe factors, which include the type of transplant (autologous vs allogeneic), type of donor (related, vs unrelated, vs haploidentical) as well as the disease status of the patient and whether any potential complexities are expected for the procedure. . At CFCH, our team will work to establish the most appropriate treatment strategies for your condition. If a bone marrow transplantation is required, a detailed transparent breakdown of the costs will be provided upfront to you. If you are concerned about the costs required for your bone marrow transplant, feel free to get in touch with us. We will be happy to help you understand the various fees involved. | ||
• | Can you live a normal life after a stem cell transplant? Yes, it is possible to live a full and normal life following a stem cell transplant. While it will take time for you to regain your regular level of activity, many patients start to feel stronger between 2 months to a year after their stem cell transplant. However, patients should note that this is still the recovery period, and fatigue is to be expected. | ||
• | How successful is a second bone marrow transplant? Second bone marrow transplants are usually performed if the first transplant has failed. This could be due to graft failure or relapse of the underlying blood cancer. If the cause is graft failure, a second bone marrow transplantation has a higher chance of success. However, in patients who have relapsed after their first transplant, the success rate of the second transplant is lower and would be affected by the fitness of the patient, the aggressiveness of the underlying blood cancer, and the availability and suitability of the second transplant donor. |
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Disclaimer:
The information on the Centre For Clinical Haematology website is intended for educational use. It should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified health professional.
What is An Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation?
Video from: Centre for Clinical Haematology
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What is an Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant?
Video from: Centre for Clinical Haematology
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Finding a Suitable Donor for An Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant
Video from: Centre for Clinical Haematology
Related Links
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Email : contact@cfch.com.sg
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Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays
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© Centre for Clinical Haematology | 2023
Locations
Contact
WhatsApp : +65 9376 7221
Email : contact@cfch.com.sg
.
Consultation Hours
Monday to Friday : 8.30am – 5.30pm
Saturday : 8.30am – 12.30pm
Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays
Find us on Facebook
Drop a Line
© Centre for Clinical Haematology | 2023