How Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant Is Helpful for Leukemia Patients

1. How Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant Is Helpful for Leukemia Patients The large chemotherapy drug dosages provided by doctors for treating acute myeloid leukemia have limitations due to side effect complications that can be caused by them. Even though the higher dosages of such drugs can lead to elimination of more cancerous cells, these can’t be provided as they result in severe bone marrow damage. This is the area where formation of new cells take place. It can result in bleeding, life threatening conditions, and other issues present through low count of cells. Need of Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant Sometimes doctors make use of stem cell transplant, which is also known as allogeneic leukemia bone marrow transplant for providing higher chemotherapy doses that can be provided normally. (Sometimes patients are also provided with radiation therapy.) After finishing the treatment, the leukemia patient gets infusion of stem cells for bone marrow restoration. These blood-forming cells available for transplant either come from the bone marrow or blood. Sometimes the stem cells are also used from the umbilical cord of the baby. Allogeneic stem cell transplant The allogeneic leukemia bone marrow transplant procedures can be different depending on whom blood-forming cells are coming from. The allogeneic bone marrow transplant is among the commonly used SCT types for treating AML. With the allogeneic transplant, stem cells would be available from anyone other than patient – typically a close donor whose type of tissue (known as HLA type) matches well with the patient’s. The type of tissue depends on various substances present on the body’s surface cells. The differences in the HLA types in stem cell recipient and donor causes the immune system of the body for reacting against cells. Therefore, closer matching tissue is there between the recipient and the donor, the better chance transplanted have and they’ll start forming new cells. A close relative is often the donor, like a sister or a brother, if they’re a good donor match. When no closer relatives match, the stem cells can be availed from an unrelated matched donor (MUD). This is an unrelated blood donation volunteer whose blood tissue matches with the patient’s. However, use of the MUD stem cells can result in further complications. Sometimes umbilical cord stems also get used. Such stem cells are available from the blood

2. drained through placenta and umbilical cord after the baby gets born and you cut the umbilical cord. Risks associated with Leukemia Transplant For a lot of patients with the AML, mainly the ones at high risk of leukemia return post treatment, through the allogeneic SCT preferred over the autologous SCT. The Leukemia disease affects the bone marrow and blood, so providing patients with their own cells after treatment can mean also providing them with leukemia cells. Donor cells can also be used due to the effect of graft against leukemia. When the cell donor cells get infused in the patient’s body, they can recognize the remaining cells being foreign and start attacking them. Such effect is possible with an autologous stem cells transplantation process. Allogeneic transplants have various side effects and risks, so patients normally have to be relatively healthy and young to remain as fine candidates. Another difficulty is that sometimes it can be hard to get matching donor. Why Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant is recommended? The best thing about the allogeneic leukemia bone marrow transplant is that the stem cells are available from a healthy donor without any malignant cells. However, as finding a matching donor isn’t simple, an autologous transplant is common. Also, if you’ve gotten an allogeneic transplant, your doctor can prescribe certain drugs for reduction of risk of graft-versus-host- disease (GVHD), which is a condition where donated cells can attack patient tissues. Recovery from the leukemia stem cell transplant can take various months. The hematologic oncology team works together with rest of the care team for supporting your throughout the process. Gift of Life Also Offers Following Services : Bone Marrow Transplant Donor Bone Marrow Registry Search Blood Cancer Bone Marrow Transplant Leukemia Marrow Transplant