Many people still remain unaware of the facts behind a lifesaving procedure commonly known as bone marrow stem cell therapy. Do you know how the global need for more stem cell donations is being filled?
What is a bone marrow?
Bone marrow is a delicate and spongy tissue inside the bones that produces hematopoietic stem cells. These stem cells have the ability to develop into healthy
- red blood cells which are responsible for transporting oxygen in the body
- white blood cells which are responsible for helping fight infection
- platelets which are responsible for stopping bleeding
A bone marrow stem cell treatment involves a transplant that replaces stem cells that are harmful, faulty and also the ones that are destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation.
Read this to know the importance of bone marrow stem cell transplantation: The stem cells in healthy bone marrow produce blood cells, including the white blood cells that are crucial to your immune system. Blood cancers damage your bone marrow. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments for the cancers also damage the bone marrow. A stem cell transplant allows new stem cells to take over for your damaged marrow so that the body can again produce healthy cells.
Who needs the therapy?
Typically, patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplasia, multiple myeloma, severe blood diseases, and certain immune deficiency diseases may benefit from a transplant. A patient’s primary care doctor and an oncologist (cancer specialist) or hematologist (blood specialist) will recommend the best treatment options. Stem cell transplants also treats blood diseases.
The stem cells were collected from the bone marrow hence earlier it was known as a bone marrow transplant. However, now stem cells are usually collected from the blood. Hence, they are now often called stem cell transplants.
Now that you know about stem cell therapy, let me tell you how the therapy is carried out.
- The first step will involve introducing injections of specific medicines four or five days before the blood drawn. These medicines move the blood-forming stem cells into the bloodstream.
- In the next step, blood will be drawn from your body. The stem cells that were moved into the bloodstream in the previous step will now be separated from the rest of the blood. It will be stored in freezing conditions.
- The next step will involve a conditioning treatment which will be done with the aim to kill the cancerous cells and your stem cells. This will affect your immune system in the process so that the new stem cells can take over. This can be done by either chemotherapy or radiation.
- Then the new stem cells will be injected into your body.
- Nurses monitor periodically to check and ensure that you are not developing fever, chills, or a drop in blood pressure. During this phase, you might have light side effects like a headache, nausea, or shortness of breath.
A stem cell transplant is usually carried out if other treatments are not effective, the potential benefits of a transplant outweigh the risks and you're in relatively good health, despite your underlying condition.
The team of experts in Regen America have gained expertise in this therapy over a long period of time. Many years of research and practice in this therapy which was once just on papers have helped it become a reality. Regen America is the best center for bone marrow stem cell treatment.
Regen America offers bone marrow stem cell therapy which is also called bone marrow aspiration therapy. It helps you accelerate and heal moderately harsh tendon injuries and osteoarthritis. Get in touch with our experts now.
