Stem cell transplant (SCT) is a cure available for several diseases and all of these treatments are done at economical prices in India. But survival and success rate of stem cell transplant (SCT) procedure has its dependency on several factors like the stage of the disease, type of disease, an age of the patient, and health condition of the patient etc.
Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) in India:
Stem cell transplant (SCT) turns out to be a life-saving procedure for several malignant and non-malignant diseases. The number of stem cell transplants (SCT) being done is more than 40,000 across the world. India is slowly contributing toward this huge number of stem cell transplants (SCT) done every year. Over the past few years, India has become equipped with facilities in its hospitals to be able to handle all sort of complicated cases requiring a stem cell transplant (SCT). Learn More About Stem Cell Transplant.
What are the types of Stem Cell Transplant (SCT)?
There are several types of stem cell transplant (SCT) available which are used to treat different malignant and non-malignant diseases. Every disease cannot be treated with one particular type of stem cell transplant (SCT) and neither can evert SCT be applicable in every case. Every patient has a certain different set of requirements. But amongst all types of SCT allogeneic transplant is the most common form of SCT which is even used to treat several forms of leukemia-like AM and several other disorders.
Following are the main types of stem cell transplant (SCT) available to cure diseases:
• Auto or Autologous stem cell transplant (SCT)
This type of transplant uses the stem cells of the patient to carry out the transplant successfully. In this case, some of the healthy stem cells of the patient are extracted and preserved to be used during transplant. After that chemotherapy or radiation therapy is initiated to kill and destroy the malignant stem cells of the body. This method is applied to treat several conditions like multiple myeloma, and even in relapse of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
The main advantage of this transplant method is lower chances of graft rejection or complete rejection, graft-versus-host disease, engraftment also occurs quickly and overall side effects and complications are even less.
But this stem cell transplant (SCT) method has a limitation that at times, some of the cancer cells might remain, even after the complete procedure. Since the cancer killing effect appears only during chemotherapy or radiation. In rare cases, some of the cancer cells are missed during chemo.
• Allo or Allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT)
In this type of transplant, a mandatory requirement is a donor from whom stem cells can be obtained. But a donor needs to have a matching HLA with the patient otherwise the person is not fit for being a donor. A donor can be a relative or non-relative but a matching one. This method is used for several diseases like many aggressive lymphomas, leukemias, and even in failed cases of autologous transplants.
Its advantage is that the new stem cells which are transplanted are completely healthy and cancer-free. This also reboots the immune system once again and even the cancer killing effect continues after the stem cell transplant (SCT).
But the main disadvantage allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) holds is a rejection or denial of the transplanted stem cells, slow engraftment, and more complications like GVHD etc.
What is the Success rate of Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) in India?
SCT in India has sufficiently good success rates and this is another reason besides the economic price for medical tourism. Indian hospitals are equipped in terms of equipment as well as experienced internationally well-trained doctors and other staff members to deal with conditions seeking SCT as a treatment option. Several types of research are being done to evaluate and maintain data on the success rate of the different set of cases of SCTs done every year in India. Since every case requiring SCTs is not the same and dozens of them involves complications which also require some additional treatments as well. But most of the cases are a complete success with rare a percentage of nearly less than 30 percent touching a failure or requiring a re-transplant.
What is the Survival rate of patients have undergone Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) in India?
Stem cell transplant (SCT) improves the chances of survival of a patient rather than without it. Since SCT is the commonly opted method to treat and cure such complicated diseases or cancers which cannot be done with drugs, chemotherapies, and radiations. Several studies reveal that a person can sustain for more than 3 years and even more if no remissions appear. Especially in young patients, SCT can be entirely life-saving and the patient can lead a sufficiently healthy life for long after the procedure.
Which is the best hospital for Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) in India?
Every hospital in India is fully equipped and has the potential deal with every sort of SCT cases. Every case has some specific requirements and you must always look for the hospital as per that. Every hospital in India has the best of oncologists, hematologists, and other doctors. But in order to find your best the hospital, you may let us know your requirements via a live chat available on the blog portal.
Related FAQs:
1) Q: Is Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) really cure cancer?
A: Stem cell transplant (SCT) is capable of treating several variable diseases like aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, myeloma, lymphomas, leukemias- AML, ALL, CML, neuroblastoma etc. But in most of the cases stem cell transplant (SCT) is taken into consideration when all other lines of treatment like chemo, radiation, immune targeting, drugs etc failed to achieve a firm improvement and cure of the condition. So SCT can be considered as an option to cure such diseases of the root. But still, every case might be different depending upon the facts and certain risks and involved complications which must be discussed with the doctor prior to starting with the treatment. Learn More about the diseases can be cured with a Stem Cell Transplant.
2) Q: How long a cancer patient live after Stem Cell Transplant (SCT)?
A: Any cancer patient treated with stem cell transplant (SCT) can sufficiently survive for 3 to 5 years or longer if no remissions appear.
3) Q: Is it safe to donate Stem Cell?
A: Yes, it is completely safe to volunteer and be a donor for the stem cell transplantation. Instead, it can help another person to survive through the tough time and live longer. Moreover, stem cell donation is done under the anesthesia effect or even cells can be obtained from the peripheral blood after a filtration process without even requiring any anesthesia or recovery period for a donor. A donor can be any related or family member, an unrelated person, a related haploidentical person from the family.