Renowned Haematologist Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya from Kolkata is a consultant in Apollo Gleneagles Hospital. Worked with some of the well-known hospitals in the UK, he holds a rich experience of more than 25 years. Being an active member of the European Haematology Association, UK, American Society of Haematology, US, he has also marked his presence in World Conference on Haemoglobinopathies and Thalassemia’s, Palermo, Sicily. Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya is a certified MBBS &MD (Medicine). He pursued FRC Pathology from Royal Oldham Hospital, UK, and visiting fellowship in Bone Marrow transplant from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre, Seattle, US. His key specialization includes Bone Marrow Transplant, Haematology, and Blood-related diseases.
Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow is soft, fatty tissue inside the bones. It creates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in our bodies. It also contains HSC the immature blood-forming cells. These are responsible for making blood cells throughout our life span. Your body needs a bone marrow transplant when the bone marrow stops working and producing healthy blood cells. This medical procedure is also performed to replace bone marrow that has been ruined or destroyed by disease, chemotherapy, or infection. In the procedure, blood-forming stem cells are infused into the body which travels to the bone marrow and produces new cells that promote the growth of new marrow. Be prepared to ask your hematologist plenty of questions and clear all your doubts regarding the procedure.
Types of Bone Marrow Transplant
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Allogeneic stem cell transplant – It uses healthy blood stem cells from a donor to replace your diseased or damaged bone marrow. The donor may be a known or an unknown person. The blood stem cells may be collected from the donor’s blood, bone marrow within a donor’s hipbone, or blood of a donated umbilical cord.
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Autologous stem cell transplant – It uses healthy blood stem cells from your own body to change your diseased or damaged bone marrow. This procedure is preferred over cells from a donor as you need not worry about cell compatibility between the donor’s cells and your cell.
How does it help?
A bone marrow transplant allows a safe treatment when you have to undergo high doses of chemotherapy and rescuing the bone marrow damage by the treatment. The damaged cells are placed by healthy ones and the new cell provided can help kill cancer cells directly. Bone marrow transplants benefit people with a variety of both cancerous and noncancerous diseases, that include:
- Acute leukemia
- Hemoglobinopathies
- Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Immune deficiencies
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neuroblastoma
- Adrenoleukodystrophy
Prior Preparation for Bone Marrow Transplant
You will have to undergo certain tests before the procedure to discover what type of bone marrow cells you need. Before you get new stem cells you will be given radiation or chemotherapy to kill all the cancer cells. During the treatment, your immune system gets affected and your ability to fight diseases is reduced to a great extent. People getting bone marrow transplants have to stay in a special section where they are least exposed to anything that can cause them an infection.
The Procedure
It is similar to blood transfusion. During an allogeneic transplant, bone marrow cells will be harvested from your donor a day or two before your procedure. When your cells are being used, they’ll be retrieved from the stem cell bank.
The cells are collected from both hipbones through a needle in a bone marrow harvest. You’re given anesthesia for this procedure, so you can be asleep and free of any pain. If you experience any complications you will have to stay in the hospital for close observation. The success and side-effects of the procedure vary from person to person. Successful transplants have improved the quality of life of many.
Take away
The process of transplant can be emotionally taxing for many. Some hospitals also have counselors that would help you in going through the process. For best Bone Marrow Transplant and other related diseases contact Haematologist Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata.
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