Fortis Hospital, Noida

A bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure that involves replacing a patient's damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells, which can help treat various conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

The bone marrow can be collected through two main methods: a bone marrow aspiration, which involves removing a small amount of liquid bone marrow from the hipbone using a needle, or a peripheral blood stem cell transplant, which involves collecting stem cells from the bloodstream through a process called apheresis.

Generally, donors need to be in good health and between the ages of 18 and 44. The donor's blood and tissue type must also match the recipient's to reduce the risk of complications.

Seeking a bone marrow donor within the family is the first option. A brother or sister is most likely to be a perfect match as a donor. This is called a matched sibling donor transplant. There’s a 1 in 4 chance of the bone marrow cells matching among siblings. One’s parents, own children, and other relatives can sometimes be good matches. Only about 30% of those who need a bone marrow transplant can find a matching donor in their own family.

Some of the potential risks and side effects of a bone marrow transplant include infections, bleeding, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and organ damage. The risks can vary depending on the patient's age, overall health, and the specific type of transplant.

The recovery process can vary depending on the patient's overall health and the specific type of transplant. Patients may experience a range of side effects and complications during the recovery period, and it may take several months or even years to fully recover.

The success rate of a bone marrow transplant depends on several factors, including the patient's age, overall health, and the specific condition being treated. In general, bone marrow transplants have a high success rate for treating certain types of blood cancers and other blood disorders.

Patients can prepare for a bone marrow transplant by following their doctor's instructions, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and managing any underlying medical conditions. Patients should also be prepared for a long recovery process and work closely with their healthcare team to manage any side effects or complications.

Bone marrow cell donors and recipients of all ages who meet strict health criteria are eligible for bone marrow transplants. This means both the donor and the recipient will undergo stringent tests to check for underlying risks and health issues that could restrict the treatment. While younger donors under the age of 65 years are preferred for BMT and recipients’ age can be extended upto 75 years if they are fit and without accompanying severe illness.

The encouraging news is that the risks or complications following bone marrow transplant are decreasing according to medical research. This is making it possible for more people to live longer after a successful BMT. The general estimated survival rate following BMT is 80%; this means that the person can live a healthy life for many years after a BMT. The success rate of BMT varies from person to person, depending on the stage and type of cancer, general health condition according to age, etc.

The transplant procedure is not painful because it is not surgery. In fact, it is similar to a blood transfusion. The bone marrow cells are infused into the vein directly through a thin catheter or intravenous tube. This process could take a couple of hours and the recipient is awake throughout.

Recovery after a bone marrow transplant is gradual. It takes up to 2 weeks for the newly infused cells to reach the bone marrow to begin to make healthy new cells. This process is called engraftment. In some recipients, it could take longer. During this time the immunity system can be weak. To prevent infections or the risk of complications, doctors recommend hospitalization for a few weeks to around 90 days to monitor the progress. Even after being discharged from the hospital, the bone marrow transplant recipients will have to visit the hospital for routine follow-ups with the doctors to check the response to the transplant.