Stem cell and bone marrow transplants

If your bone marrow has been damaged and is no longer able to produce healthy blood cells, a stem cell transplant may be used.

A transplant can also be used to replace blood cells that have been destroyed or damaged by intensive cancer treatment.

Initially you’ll be evaluated and assessed to make sure you’re physically well enough for the transplant.

Next, the stem cells are harvested from either you (autologous transplant) or the donor (allogeneic transplant). This can be in the form of blood, which is taken through an IV line and circulated through a machine separating the stem cells, or in exceptional cases by taking stem cells directly from the bone marrow.  

To prepare your bone marrow for the new stem cells you’ll then receive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, to condition your body. This can be quite challenging and unpleasant, as you may suffer with side effects such as sickness, hair loss and tiredness.

When the conditioning treatment ends, the healthy stem cells will be infused into your body through a drip. You’ll be awake during this stage and the transfusion is painless.

The process is very intensive, and you’ll need to stay in hospital to allow the stem cells to settle in your bone marrow, divide and start to produce new stem cells.

You won’t be back on your feet straight away, but most people are well enough to go home between 1 and 3 months. 

Initially you’ll be evaluated and assessed to make sure you’re physically well enough for the transplant.

Next, the stem cells are harvested from either you (autologous transplant) or the donor (allogeneic transplant). This can be in the form of blood, which is taken through an IV line and circulated through a machine separating the stem cells, or in exceptional cases by taking stem cells directly from the bone marrow.  

To prepare your bone marrow for the new stem cells you’ll then receive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, to condition your body. This can be quite challenging and unpleasant, as you may suffer with side effects such as sickness, hair loss and tiredness.

When the conditioning treatment ends, the healthy stem cells will be infused into your body through a drip. You’ll be awake during this stage and the transfusion is painless.

The process is very intensive, and you’ll need to stay in hospital to allow the stem cells to settle in your bone marrow, divide and start to produce new stem cells.

You won’t be back on your feet straight away, but most people are well enough to go home between 1 and 3 months.

You may feel anxious about the risks and challenges, but if you’re in otherwise good health apart from your underlying condition, the benefits of the transplant usually outweigh the risks.

Your medical team will talk you through the risks before the transplant. The main ones are:

• GvHD – which means Graft versus Host Disease. This can happen when transplanted cells from a donor attack  the other cells in the body. This doesn’t happen when using your own stem cells.
  • Acute GvHD (aGvHD) is a reaction of donor immune cells against host tissues. Patients can develop a skin rash, jaundice or hepatitis of the liver and/or abdominal pain or diarrhoea. ^{Footnote [1]}  In a milder form it only affects 25% of skin. ^{Footnote [2]}
  • Chronic GvHD can occur after aGvHD or start at any time. It can affect any organ or system with a GvHD, but can also affect the lungs, muscles and joints. 

• Infection – this can be as a result of your white blood cell count being low in the early days after the transplant.
• Anaemia – this can happen as your red blood cell count is lower after the transplant.
• Fertility can be affected and some patients opt to bank sperm or eggs before the procedure.
   

While you’re in hospital the transplant team will be on the alert for any side effects and will be able to help you if you feel unwell. 

Some patients experience pain in different parts of the body which can slow down your initial recovery - your medical team will be able to advise you on pain relief or refer you to a pain specialist team.

Other side effects after the stem cell transplant can include abdominal pain, tiredness, sickness, bleeding, bruising, fever or headaches.

If you are diagnosed with a condition that may require a stem cell transplant, we can help you navigate what benefits your particular policy has access to. You can update us by calling directly to our claims team or using the MyAviva portal online. 

Once we’ve confirmed your claim meets the terms of your policy, we’ll pay any medical bills directly. Just be sure to tell us if you need more tests or treatment, or if your hospital or specialist changes.

It’s good to have one less thing to worry about. It takes Aviva.