What is a stem cell transplant and what is the relationship to bone marrow transplantation?
A. Bone marrow transplantation has been used to treat blood diseases such as leukemia and disorders of the immune system for over 25 years. Stem cells are immature cells generally found in bone marrow. Stem cells have the potential to develop into the three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These important cells are used by the blood and the immune system to fight infections and disease and are continually replaced by the marrow throughout an individual’s lifetime. In some diseases like leukemia, when the marrow can no longer produce healthy blood and immune system cells, a stem cell transplant from a suitable donor can be life-saving. In a stem cell transplant, the donated stem cells are infused or put into the patient whose diseased blood cells have been destroyed by radiation and or chemotherapy. With a successful transplant, the donated stem cells will rapidly grow in number and restore the patient’s normal stem cell function and its blood-form
