Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

Why is Stem Cell Transplant Being Considered for You?

You may need a stem cell transplant when:

• Your body cannot make the blood cells it needs because your bone marrow or stem cells have failed.
• Your bone marrow or blood cells are diseased and need to be replaced.
• You have a disease that is treated with high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment, which destroys both cancerous and stem cells at the same time.

Stem Cell Transplant Process

The major phases of autologous stem cell transplant are outlined below. Your pre-transplant, follow-up care, and outpatient services will take place at Dana-Farber. For inpatient care, you will be admitted either to Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) or Dana-Farber’s Inpatient Hospital (located within BWH). 

• Step 1: Pre-transplant testing: You will have a series of tests and meetings to determine if you are a good candidate for transplant and to discuss the process and side effects.
• Step 2: Stem cell collection: For most patients, stem cells are collected through peripheral blood stem cell harvest using a procedure called apheresis. For some patients, stem cells will be collected through a bone marrow harvest under general anesthesia. Watch the video Cell Collection for Autologous Transplant.

Step 3: Conditioning: You will get chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells. Conditioning therapy generally takes place over 2-7 days before your stem cell infusion. Patients are admitted to the hospital the day before conditioning treatment starts.

Step 4: Stem cell infusion: You will get your new, healthy stem cells through an infusion in your central line catheter. This usually lasts between 15 minutes to 2 hours. Surgery is not required for a stem cell transplant.

Step 5: Engraftment: Engraftment is when the transplanted cells begin to grow and make healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. From your stem cell infusion until engraftment, you may experience side effects like fevers, nausea, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. As your stem cells engraft and make healthy new blood cells, you will begin to feel better.

Step 6: Recovery: Recovery from a stem cell transplant takes time, and varies for each patient. For patients who receive their transplant in the hospital, most are ready to leave the hospital 11 to 16 days after their stem cell infusion.

Step 7: Follow-Up: You will have weekly follow-up appointments at Dana-Farber or with your local oncologist for four weeks after your discharge. After that time, you will have visits at Dana-Farber monthly or less frequently depending on your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Step 8: Survivorship: All stem cell transplant survivors should have follow-up care. For some, this will take place at Dana-Farber; others will receive follow-up care with their local oncologist. Follow-up care will be different for each person, but generally includes tests and screenings to monitor your health and manage potential long-term effects of treatment.