Starship Foundation

Conditions, tests & treatments A-Z
Keeping your child well
Parent support
Support groups A-Z
Health Professionals

Bone marrow and blood stem cell transplantation in childhood cancer


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

What is a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant?

A bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant is a two step process of:
  1. elimination by chemotherapy and / or radiation of deficient bone marrow or malignant cells followed by
  2. replacement of the deficient marrow or cells by an infusion of healthy blood stem cells
Blood stem cells are immature blood cells found in the bone marrow. As they mature they are responsible for the formation of the blood and immune system. They are available in bone marrow, peripheral blood and the cord blood of newly-born babies.
 
The healthy blood stem cells can come from:
  1. a child's own blood or bone marrow. The blood stem cells can be collected during a period of remission and stored for later transplantation, or
  2. a compatible family member, or
  3. an unrelated compatible donor
If a decision is made for your child to have a blood stem cell transplant, you will be given detailed information.
 

 Back to Top

What can you do?

Keep the detailed information given to you about your child's blood stem cell transplant, together in a folder with any other information about treatment, such as the treatment protocol for your child.
 

 Back to Top

Acknowledgements

All the fact sheets in the Childhood cancer section of this website have been written by health professionals who work in the field of paediatric oncology. They have been reviewed by the members of the nurses' working group of the Paediatric Oncology Steering Group (POSG) of the Children's Cancer Services in New Zealand. Medical information is authorised by the POSG chair.
 

 Back to Top

Your notes

Print this page

Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 08/12/2010

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz