The Transplant Process

The information in this section and all its sub-sections comes from the UCSF Pediatric BMT Program's information booklets.

The BMT process can be broken up into six phases. Each of these phases is explained in more detail on the following pages:

1. Pre-Transplant, which includes the initial consultation visit, pre-transplant work-up and evaluation, and the informed consent conference;
   
   
2. Pre-Admission, involving medical procedures, for example, catheter placement and autologous bone marrow stem cell collection;
   
   
3. Admission to the BMT Unit, 5-10 days before the transplant, when the patient undergoes a conditioning regimen of high doses of chemotherapy and sometimes radiation therapy;
   
   
4. The Day of the Transplant (Day 0), when healthy marrow stem cells are injected into the bloodstream via an intravenous tube;
   
   
5. After the Transplant, when the bone marrow stem cells migrate to the bones and begin to produce healthy red cells, white cells and platelets. It is in this critical stage that complications of the chemotherapy and radiation therapy as well as Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) may develop;
   
   
6. Discharge from the Hospital, and the return home.

BMT recipients have special dietary concerns that help make their transplant successful. There are also emotional aspects to transplantation for both the recipients and their families.

We have identified many resources that may help you and your family during your stay in the transplant unit.