Stem cell and bone marrow transplants

Stem cells are collected from the bloodstream, or less often from the bone marrow.

This transplant uses your own stem cells to replace blood cells destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and other treatments. 

When you have a stem cell transplant using another person’s stem cells, it is called an allogeneic transplant.

Find out who can be a stem cell or bone marrow donor, and how to register.

Radiotherapy to the whole body is called total body irradiation or TBI.

The side effects of a stem cell or bone marrow transplant include infection, bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea.

It takes a long time to get over intensive treatment such as a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. You might need to make adjustments in various parts of your life.

There are lots of organisations, support groups and helpful books to help you cope with a transplant and its side effects.