Leukemia is a form of blood cancer that spreads very fast. This affects the bone marrow and the red blood levels in the body drop making the body very unhealthy. The bone marrow is also unable to create platelets and white blood. When this happens the body cannot prevent bleeding or even prevent infections. To counter this problem a process known as Leukemia bone marrow transplant is conducted.
What Is Bone Marrow Transplant?
This procedure is also known as BMT. During this process, the patient receives a bone marrow transplant so that is the body can produce the right amount of blood. The unhealthy cells are discarded and healthy cells are introduced in the body. For certain people, this treatment works like a charm.
Allogeneic transplant is the most commonly used method. This involves extracting blood-producing cells from a healthy person and introducing it into the body of the patient. The patient is first put through chemotherapy, where the infected cells are killed off. Then the healthy blood cells are administered to the body via intravenous. The new cells move into your bones and try to produce healthy bone marrow tissue typing again.
The process is a lengthy one and can stretch from a couple of weeks to a few months. The recovery process may also take a couple of months. You will have to follow up with a couple of tests to see how the body has accepted the transplant.
When Should One Visit A Doctor?
● These are certain situations when you or a child should see a doctor regarding a transplant.
● If the child is less than 2 years
● If Leukemia shows up more than once post-treatment
● If no remission occurs after chemo
● If AML occurred because of another treatment
How To Go About The Process
If you feel that you may need a transplant in the future, you should see a doctor right away. It is observed that a lot of patients have higher chances of survival when they undergo the transplant in the early stages of leukemia. Here are certain points that you should keep in mind.
● Start looking for a donor even when your transplant is not needed.
● If your doctor recommends a time for you to undergo transplant you should take the suggestion
● Review the benefits and risks of the transplant
● Speak about the various options for treatment
● Go over your entire medical history
Find Out about The Risk Of A Relapse
Doctors conduct molecular and cytogenetic testing to monitor and see if the Leukemia is will return. This means that the doctors study the genes and chromosomes present the in cancer cells. The genes and chromosomes are responsible for a body to function properly. If the chromosomes in the AML display changes then it is sign that the patient may not suffer from a relapse. Patients who dot show these changes are at risk. The doctor will have to examine the bone marrow transplant donor match in a patient to come to a conclusion.
Contact US:
Gift of Life Marrow Registry
Address: 800 Yamato Rd suite 101 Boca Raton, FL
Phone: (800) 962-7769