What do you mean by Bone Marrow Transplantation?

Let’s get back to basics, shall we? As we know that bone marrow is a highly specialized tissue which performs the important function of growth and differentiation of blood cells.

Bone marrow transplantation is a process in which a patient with diseased bone marrow receives a healthy marrow tissue from a donor. It is a very common procedure which is being performed by all leading private and public hospitals in India. Our doctors are very skilled and competent in bone marrow transplantation.

Why is the Bone Marrow Transplantation done?

Bone marrow tissue consists of blood cells and stem cells in their various stages of development. Stem cells have the capability of turning into any types of cells and tissue when stimulated with certain growth factors. After the growth and differentiation of these stem cells, the matured blood cells are released into the bloodstream.

In certain individuals, the BM is defective either due to certain genetic or congenital diseases such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, hurler’s syndrome etc. Also, it does not function properly in certain blood cancers such as aplastic anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma etc.

Bone marrow transplantation provided done correctly, is considered to be a cure for many of these disorders.

How does Bone Marrow Transplantation work?

Due to certain types of cancer, there is excessive proliferation of certain lineages of the myeloid and lymphoid cells. This abnormal proliferation of immature blood cells hampers the normal functioning of the other cells. This results in the deficiency of other types of blood cells and as a result, these cause the symptoms.

Also, chemotherapy is highly toxic to the bone marrow. So, many cancer patients have prescribed the transplantation procedure usually before and after the cancer treatment.

When the patient’s bone marrow is replaced by a healthier one (after doing appropriate pre-operative matching), it starts performing the regular routine functions. This transplantation procedure is being done for many years and has shown excellent results in patients.

The donor can either be the patient himself (autologous), or some relative or an unknown donor (allogeneic), or patient’s identical twin (syngeneic). 

What is the success rate for Bone Marrow Transplantation?

Transplantation is a common procedure with high chances of survival. A patient who has undergone the procedure and is doing fine after 5 years without any complications is expected to live an additional 15 years as compared to the survival rate of the disease condition.

In recent studies, it has been observed that the success rate for an allogeneic bone marrow transplant is around 60-62%, which in medical world is pretty good. It is also found that around three out of every four patients survive the bone marrow transplantation.

Nowadays, there is a specific protocol for every procedure which is being followed by a hospital. Thus, the patient receives same quality of care from all the healthcare professionals.

What are the complications associated with the Bone Marrow Transplantation?

The first year is very important for BMT patients as this is the time most complications occur.

One of the most severe and important complications associated with the transplant is its tendency for rejection. This results in a cascade of complications known as the “Graft vs Host Disease”. This occurs due to the improper matching of the Human Leukocyte Antigen of the donor and the recipient tissue.

The patient is also severely immunocompromised due to the ongoing chemo and the radiotherapies so as a result, transplanting a new tissue into the human body makes it prone to infections.

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is the world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across the world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

The bone marrow treatment involves the replacing the diseased or the cancerous bone marrow of the patient with a healthy one. The basic function of the bone marrow is to produce the blood-forming cells which undergo growth and differentiation to become mature blood cells. These blood cells are then released in the bloodstream as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets mainly.

Why is Bone Marrow Transplant done?

A bone marrow transplant is a highly specific procedure which is used to treat a variety of disorders and diseases.

The treatment is being extensively used in patients with childhood leukemia and lymphoma. It is indicated in adults as well.

The transplant has also shown positive results for the treatment of various rare blood disorders and genetic diseases. These include sickle cell anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, thalassemia etc.

What is the cost of Bone Marrow Transplant in India?

India is becoming a leading destination for patients all over the world to get their treatment done. India offers high-end medical technology and skilled doctors at prices greatly lower than their western counterparts.

Bone Marrow Transplantation cost depends upon the condition of the patient, the type of bone marrow transplant technique, doctor’s consultation fees and hospital charges. Cost of transplant is also affected by the accommodation charges, visa fees, travel costs etc. which additionally patient and their attendants have to bear.

It is generally estimated that the cost of bone marrow transplant is one-sixth in India as compared to western countries such as USA, UK etc. The distances in the world are getting shorter. People do not have to think twice before going to another country. This has led to rising in medical tourism all over the world and India is one of the most emerging destinations.

In India, the transplantation costs around 10-15 lakhs when the donor is obtained from the family. The costs increase when the donor is found out from the registry. The cost then goes up to 25-30 lakhs.

The treatment is very cost friendly as compared to other developed countries. Also, the treatment is very cost friendly for patients who do not have bone marrow transplant treatment available in this country.

Related FAQs:

1) Q: What is the bone marrow transplant cost in most of the hospitals in India?

A: Depending upon the patient condition and hospital opted the price varies, however, usually it ranges between 6 to 14 lakh.

2) Q: What happens next if bone marrow cancer is diagnosed?

A: After diagnosis, the first step is bone marrow harvesting. This is done by extraction of bone marrow for analysis and confirmation of the presence of cancerous cells. Post that chemotherapy is started which is further followed by bone marrow transplant.

3) Q: How much variation is there in bone marrow transplant cost in India and other countries?

A: In India, the bone marrow transplant cost is more economical than any other country. In real the Indian price is nearly half or sometimes one-third of the price offered in other western countries. Even all insurance companies do not cover the entire types of transplants at times. So the price variation massively affects the finances of the patient and the family. This makes India bone marrow transplant cost effective for real.

The bone marrow is a crucial tissue in the body. Any problem with it shows very drastically on the entire body.

What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

The bone marrow is a store for all types of hematopoietic stem cells. Any damage to this tissue is a direct hindrance to the blood cells. The blood cells perform various important functions in the body such as transport of oxygen and nutrients, fighting infections, maintaining the body temperature etc. the blood consists of various cells such as red blood cells, the white blood cells (plasma cells, lymphocytes, natural killer cells, leukocytes etc.), and the platelets.

When the bone marrow fails to produce the desired number of blood cells due to any reason, a doctor prescribes a bone marrow transplant. It works on the basic principle that replacing the diseased marrow with a healthy one obtained from a healthy compatible donor.

The diseases which debilitate bone marrow are aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma or certain myelodysplastic syndromes.

What is required for a Bone Marrow Transplant procedure?

Any medical procedure which involves the exchange of an organ or a tissue or a substance for that matter requires a strict protocol. The success and the failure of the bone marrow transplant procedure depend on this.

Firstly, the donor. The patient whose bone marrow is not working properly is advised by the doctor to get a bone marrow transplant. Usually, all the blood relatives of the patient are examined to see if they are a match.

Matching is a very important step as it can really make or break a transplant. the most important component is the “HLA matching”. Human Leukocyte Antigen or HLA is a protein present on the cell surface. This protein or marker is used by the immune system to differentiate any cell from being foreign. If the HLA matching is not done correctly, the body rejects the tissue and results in a series of complications. The immune system mounts a full-blown attack on the foreign tissue.

How is the patient prepared for a Bone Marrow Transplant procedure?

Bone marrow transplant procedure takes a minimum of a week in the hospital. The patient and the donor’s family are asked to make suitable arrangements for their stay, leaves from the jobs, and other family members.

Doctors also run a full-blood and medical workup to eliminate all kinds of debilitating illnesses. The patient is required to complete his/her Chemotherapy before receiving the new stem cells so as to gain a better effect.

The recipient is generally immunocompromised till the new cells become active. In order to protect the patient from any kind of infection, he/she is kept in a place which is reserved for people receiving bone marrow transplants. This is done to reduce the chances of exposure to infectious agents.

What is the procedure for a Bone Marrow Transplant?

When all the tests are done, and all the formalities are completed, the doctor gives a red flag for the transplantation. A bone marrow transplant procedure is very much comparable to a blood transfusion.

In the case of an autologous transplant, the cells are collected before commencing the cancer treatment. In some cases, a patient is transfused with stem cells both before and after the procedure to achieve better results.

If the patient is receiving an allogeneic transplant, the cells are retrieved from the donor 1-2 days prior to the transplant.

The cells are taken with the help a needle which is inserted in the hip bone. The patient is usually given local anesthesia.

What is Leukapheresis?

It is a procedure in which the donor is given a certain drug which facilitates the movement of the stem cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood. This makes the harvesting of the tissue during the bone marrow transplant procedure easier.  The blood from the donor is then obtained through an intravenous (IV) line. It is connected to a machine which separates the stem cells from other components of the blood and returns the rest of it to the donor.

The next step in the bone marrow transplant procedure is the transfer of the stem cells in the recipient. The stem cells are directly made to flow into the heart using a central venous port which is installed in the upper right portion of the patient’s chest. The heart pumps the cells directly into the bloodstream from where it reaches the bone marrow. The most important part of the bone marrow transplant procedure is the establishment of stem cells in the bone marrow of the recipient.

The patient undergoes multiple sessions to help stem cells to properly integrate themselves to the body. this process is known as “Engraftment”.

The patient is closely monitored by doctors to look for any signs of rejection or other complications.

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is the world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across the world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

What do we mean by a Bone Marrow?

Let’s see! When we say bone marrow, we mean the soft, yellowish, gelatinous component present inside the bone. Bone is a hard structure and it is of two types mainly, the spongy and the cortical bone. The spongy bone is comparatively less hard and contains the active form of red bone marrow. On the other hand, cortical bone is strong and dense.

The red marrow consists of all the Myeloid cells and other precursor cells whereas the yellow bone marrow mainly consists of the fatty tissue.

Its function is the formation and maturation of new blood cells in the body, which is our main concern for now.

What are the diseases associated with the Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow is a tissue which performs a number of important functions. It acts as a reserve for stem cells and as well as storage of fatty tissue. Any problem with this issue and it can directly affect the working of the body.

Some of the diseases in which the bone marrow is compromised are:

• Sickle Cell Anaemia
• Thalassemia, both major and minor
• Polycythaemia Vera
• Myelodysplastic syndrome
• Aplastic Anaemia
• Leukemia and Lymphoma

Some of these diseases are genetic such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia while the other is acquired such as aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome or polycythemia Vera etc. Generally, the bone marrow cancers can be both genetic and acquired as their exact cause is unknown.

What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

A transplant is a medical term in which a diseased organ or tissue in a patient is replaced with a healthy one. In case a bone marrow becomes diseased or cancerous, the patient is advised by the doctor to get a bone marrow transplant.

It is a highly specialized and effective procedure to completely cure certain diseases, especially in children. In this procedure, the patient is transplanted with a new, healthy marrow to compensate for the earlier one’s inability to make new cells.

There are basically three types of bone marrow transplants that can be done:

Autologous Transplant: “Auto- means self”. The healthy tissue is obtained from the patient. This reduces any chances for rejection and other complications. It is usually done before and after the Chemotherapy treatment in cancer patients.

Allogenic Transplant: In this case, the bone marrow is obtained from a donor with proper matching protocols and is inserted into the diseased individual. It is done in cases where the recipient’s bone marrow is completely compromised and cannot produce any healthy cells. Allogenic transplant poses a high risk of infection and chances of rejection.

Syngeneic Transplant: It involves procuring the tissue from a healthy identical twin.

How is Bone Marrow Transplant done?

Due to successful results in treating various complex disorders and few risks involved, the bone marrow transplant is being done all over the world.
The first step in any transplant procedure is “finding a suitable donor”. The patient is put on a transplant list and is matched with a donor with the same blood type, HLA and other antigens compatible. Also, all the blood relatives of the patients are checked to see if their marrow matches with the recipient.

Once the donor is found, both the donor and the recipient undergo a surgery. The surgeon procures the marrow either from the sternum (breastbone) or the tibia in children. Before obtaining the tissue, the donor is given certain growth factors to promote the active proliferation of the cells.

Once it is obtained, it is stored and processed to be infused into the recipient. The bone marrow transplant is a fairly safe procedure, but it sure does have a few risks. The risks associated with a transplant are an infection, rejection or failure and most importantly the “Graft vs Host Disease (GVD)”.

Related FAQs:

1) Q: Can bone marrow transplant cure both malignant and non-malignant cancers?

A: Yes, both type of cancers can be treated with a bone marrow transplant. Some of the diseases which can be cured with BMT includes- acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, adrenoleukodystrophy, lymphomas, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, neuroblastoma, multiple myeloma, and primary amyloidosis etc.

2) Q: Who can be considered as a donor for an allogeneic transplant?

A: Any healthy person with closely matching stem cells can be considered as a donor. In this mainly related donors like parents and siblings are initially tested for a bone marrow match.

3) Q: Can umbilical cord blood bank help during bone marrow transplant?

A: Yes, if you have already enrolled for the paid service of any cord blood bank for saving the umbilical cord of your newborn baby. Then you must reach out to them for saving any of your relative’s life if it is a close match with the patient’s stem cells.