Bone Marrow Transplants

People with cancer may receive a bone marrow transplant as part of their cancer treatment plan. A bone marrow transplant refers to the process of taking sick or diseased bone marrow caused by disease or high-dose chemotherapy and replacing it with healthy bone marrow, so that the transplant recipient has the infection-fighting cells the body needs to stay healthy. Transplants are given to help patients withstand high doses of chemotherapy and may also be administered to help boost a patient's immune system to aid in his or her fight against cancer. The two types of cancers this procedure is most often performed for are leukemia and lymphoma.

Bone Marrow Transplant Types

Depending on the type of cancer and other factors, one patient may receive a different type of bone marrow transplant than another patient.

The three types of transplants are:

• Autologous
• Allogeneic
• Syngeneic

Each cancer patient who receives a bone marrow transplant will receive the most appropriate type for his or her situation. An autologous bone marrow transplant uses a patient's own bone marrow that will be extracted before chemotherapy takes place. The allogeneic bone marrow transplant uses bone marrow donated by another person. The rarest type of bone marrow transplant is the syngeneic bone marrow transplant. This type is when the bone marrow of an identical twin is used for the transplant.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, you will find an experienced team of cancer care providers dedicated to providing you with an individualized and integrated treatment plan to support you during your transplant regimen. To learn more about our innovative approach to cancer treatment, contact us at 1-800-615-3055 or by chatting with us online.