Always follow the advice of your care team.
Conditioning Chemotherapy
To prepare for your stem cell transplant, you will receive conditioning chemotherapy (or pre-transplant therapy) to prepare your body to receive the new blood stem cells. Chemotherapy prior to transplant can kill cancer cells in your body, but also helps make space for your stem cells to grow and can help your immune response fight your cancer. Your stem cell transplant pharmacist will review your chemotherapy medications with you during your medication teaching session.
Chemotherapy consists of either one drug or a combination of drugs. It is usually given in a vein or through a central venous catheter. Chemotherapy can have many side effects including:
Your care team will review these with you and can give you medications to help manage and treat some of these side effects.
Note:
Depending on your symptoms and side effects, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment or monitoring.
Chemotherapy consists of either one drug or a combination of drugs. It is usually given in a vein or through a central venous catheter. Chemotherapy can have many side effects including:
- Bone marrow suppression (decreased red and white blood cells and platelets)
- Hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Mouth sores
- Taste changes
- Sterility and/or interruption of the menstrual cycle
- Fatigue (feeling tired/lack of energy)
- Loss of appetite
Your care team will review these with you and can give you medications to help manage and treat some of these side effects.
Note:
Depending on your symptoms and side effects, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment or monitoring.
- If this is needed, you will be admitted to Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) or the Dana-Farber Inpatient Hospital located within BWH.
- Your care will transfer back to the outpatient clinic when your condition stabilizes.
- If you are admitted to the hospital, the inpatient care team’s guidelines and restrictions may differ from what is outlined here. Talk with your care team if you have questions.