A blood or marrow transplant replaces unhealthy blood-forming cells with healthy ones. Before transplant, you get chemotherapy and sometimes radiation to destroy the diseased cells. Then, the healthy cells are given to you through an intravenous (IV) catheter or tube.
There are 2 main types of transplant:
1. Autologous transplant
1. Autologous transplant
An autologous transplant uses your own blood-forming cells. The cells are collected from your bloodstream or bone marrow and stored until they’re used.
2. Allogeneic transplant
2. Allogeneic transplant
An allogeneic transplant uses healthy blood-forming cells donated by someone else. This can be a family member or someone unrelated to you. If cord blood is used, this is most often from an unrelated donor.
Watch this video, offered by the Be The Match Patient Support Center, to learn more about BMT:
English version
English version