Stem cell transplant options

Stem cell transplants treat blood-related diseases like non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia. Your doctor may suggest a stem cell transplant to restore healthy bone marrow. Stem cells help stimulate new bone marrow growth and repair your immune system.

Allogeneic stem cell transplant

In an allogeneic transplant, stem cells are collected from a matching donor and transplanted into you to suppress the disease and restore your immune system. An advantage of an allogeneic transplant is that the stem cells come from a healthy donor with no malignant cells. However, since it can be difficult to find a matching donor, an autologous transplant is usually more common.

Autologous stem cell transplant

In an autologous transplant, you are your own donor. Your peripheral blood stem cells are taken from you, frozen until needed, then given back to you after you have received high doses of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells.