The Stem Cell Transplantation Program at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center provides multidisciplinary care for patients with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and benign blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia. The Stem Cell Transplantation Program unites specialists from one of the world’s leading cancer institutes with experts from our top-ranked hospital.
Our team includes physician specialists in hematology, medical oncology, pathology and radiation therapy, working alongside dentists, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists, donor search coordinators and researchers. Our specialists collaborate constantly to ensure that your care plan offers the best possible outcomes.
A stem cell transplant—also referred to as a bone marrow transplant—is a medical procedure that infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into patients who have had theirs destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The blood-forming stem cells can come from the bone marrow, bloodstream or umbilical cord. Stem cell transplants may use your own stem cells (autologous transplant) or require a donor’s stem cells (allogeneic transplant).
The process of growing new blood cells takes between two to four weeks. During this time, you may be hospitalized at Brigham and Women’s Hospital so your care team can monitor your progress. Even after your blood counts return to normal, it takes longer for your immune system to recover—several months for autologous transplants and one to two years for allogeneic transplants. Your care team will continue to help you manage your care and any side-effects of treatment as you resume daily life.
Learn more about the Stem Cell Transplantation Program at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.
