What does a stem cell transplant do?

Stem cell transplants are used to replace bone marrow cells that have been destroyed by cancer or destroyed by the chemo and/or radiation used to treat the cancer. There are different kinds of stem cell transplants. They all use very high doses of chemo (sometimes along with radiation) to kill cancer cells.

What is the survival rate of a stem cell transplant?

Following allo-HSCT, the 2- and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 45.8\% and 39.4\%, and overall survival rates were 59.1\% and 50.8\%, respectively. The median time from relapse to death post allo-HSCT was 10.2 months, she reported.

How long can a person live after a stem cell transplant?

More than 20,000 people have now lived five years or longer after having a stem cell transplant. Here’s how it works: The stem cells in healthy bone marrow produce blood cells, including the white blood cells that are crucial to your immune system.

How long can you live after allogeneic stem cell transplant?

Conditional on surviving the first 2 to 5 years after allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (BMT), the 10-year overall survival approaches 80\%. Nonetheless, the risk of late mortality remains higher than the age- and sex-matched general population for several years after BMT.

What happens if a stem cell transplant fails?

Graft failure occurs if the transplanted stem cells fail to settle in your bone marrow and make new blood cells. This means your blood counts do not recover. Graft failure is serious but it is very rare after an autologous stem cell transplant. Your medical team monitors your blood counts closely.

Does insurance cover stem cell transplant?

Most insurance doesn’t cover stem cell therapy. There are some accepted treatments that are covered by insurance such as bone marrow transplants for cancer and aplastic anemia.

What is the life expectancy after stem cell transplant?

Life expectancy in patients surviving more than 5 years after hematopoietic cell transplantation. CONCLUSION Patients who have survived for at least 5 years after hematopoietic cell transplantation without recurrence of the original disease have a high probability of surviving for an additional 15 years, but life expectancy is not fully restored.

How does stem cell transplant affect the body?

Problems soon after transplant Mouth and throat pain. Nausea and vomiting. Infection. Bleeding and transfusions. Interstitial pneumonitis and other lung problems. Graft-versus-host disease. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a serious problem in which tiny veins and other blood vessels inside the liver become blocked. Graft failure.

What happens during the stem cell transplant process?

The actual stem cell transplant is similar to a blood transfusion. It takes one to five hours. The stem cells then naturally move into the bone marrow. The restored bone marrow should begin producing normal blood cells after several days, or up to several weeks later.