BloodCancerCure Archives - Page 2 of 2

Is Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia treatable?

What is Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia?

Chronic Myeloid leukemia is a rare type of blood cancer of the myeloid cells that originate in the bone marrow. This is characterized by excessive proliferation of the white blood cells that are usually immature. These immature cells are unable to perform their function of fighting infection and diseases.

Also, the abnormal increase in the white blood cells takes up most of the space in the bone marrow, which in turn hinders the growth and maturation of other blood cells as well.

CML usually occurs in adults due to some kind of chromosomal mutation. There is no known cause or reason for the mutation.

What are the symptoms of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia?

CML is a slow-growing disease. The symptoms do not usually appear till the disease progresses.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with the Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia are:

Fatigue and weakness
Anemia
Weight loss
Splenomegaly or enlargement of spleen resulting in swelling of the abdomen.
Bleeding
Bone pain
Skin rashes and itching

How is CML diagnosed?

Before we go into the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, the doctor needs to diagnose it. The diagnosis involves determining the stage of the disease, spread of the disease, and severity of symptoms.

The following are a few diagnostic tests for CML:

Complete blood counts
Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration
Molecular testing
Imaging tests

What is the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia?

The treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is dependent on the phase of the disease progression, grade of cancer, and also the available therapies.

The treatment is multidisciplinary approach which involves many specialists such as a general physician, haemato-oncologists, counselors, dieticians, social worker etc.

1st line treatment of the disease involves systemic therapies to kill the cancer cells along with treating the symptoms. Systemic treatment is given either orally or intravenously (IV).

Some of the most common systemic treatments for Chronic Myeloid leukemia are:

Targeted therapy
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy

Targeted therapies:
This type of treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is aimed at destroying certain specific proteins or genes associated with the disease. The specificity of the treatment offers a massive advantage over other treatments of CML. This only kills the cancer cells and leave the healthy cells intact.

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is the world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across the world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

What is the Bone Marrow treatment cost in India?

The bone marrow treatment involves the replacing the diseased or the cancerous bone marrow of the patient with a healthy one. The basic function of the bone marrow is to produce the blood-forming cells which undergo growth and differentiation to become mature blood cells. These blood cells are then released in the bloodstream as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets mainly.

Why is Bone Marrow Transplant done?

A bone marrow transplant is a highly specific procedure which is used to treat a variety of disorders and diseases.

The treatment is being extensively used in patients with childhood leukemia and lymphoma. It is indicated in adults as well.

The transplant has also shown positive results for the treatment of various rare blood disorders and genetic diseases. These include sickle cell anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, thalassemia etc.

What is the cost of Bone Marrow Transplant in India?

India is becoming a leading destination for patients all over the world to get their treatment done. India offers high-end medical technology and skilled doctors at prices greatly lower than their western counterparts.

Bone Marrow Transplantation cost depends upon the condition of the patient, the type of bone marrow transplant technique, doctor’s consultation fees and hospital charges. Cost of transplant is also affected by the accommodation charges, visa fees, travel costs etc. which additionally patient and their attendants have to bear.

It is generally estimated that the cost of bone marrow transplant is one-sixth in India as compared to western countries such as USA, UK etc. The distances in the world are getting shorter. People do not have to think twice before going to another country. This has led to rising in medical tourism all over the world and India is one of the most emerging destinations.

In India, the transplantation costs around 10-15 lakhs when the donor is obtained from the family. The costs increase when the donor is found out from the registry. The cost then goes up to 25-30 lakhs.

The treatment is very cost friendly as compared to other developed countries. Also, the treatment is very cost friendly for patients who do not have bone marrow transplant treatment available in this country.

Related FAQs:

1) Q: What is the bone marrow transplant cost in most of the hospitals in India?

A: Depending upon the patient condition and hospital opted the price varies, however, usually it ranges between 6 to 14 lakh.

2) Q: What happens next if bone marrow cancer is diagnosed?

A: After diagnosis, the first step is bone marrow harvesting. This is done by extraction of bone marrow for analysis and confirmation of the presence of cancerous cells. Post that chemotherapy is started which is further followed by bone marrow transplant.

3) Q: How much variation is there in bone marrow transplant cost in India and other countries?

A: In India, the bone marrow transplant cost is more economical than any other country. In real the Indian price is nearly half or sometimes one-third of the price offered in other western countries. Even all insurance companies do not cover the entire types of transplants at times. So the price variation massively affects the finances of the patient and the family. This makes India bone marrow transplant cost effective for real.

How much does Stem Cell Transplantation cost in India?

What does Stem Cell Transplantation mean?

There are certain conditions which directly affect the blood cells of the body. As a result of which all the functions performed by the blood such as supplying oxygen, nutrients, maintaining immunity etc. does not get done properly. The body becomes weak and shows certain signs& symptoms that show something is not okay.

The stem cell transplantation is one such procedure in which diseased abnormal stem cells are replaced by healthy ones. Stem cells are basically the precursor cells to the blood cells which grow and develop into mature cells.

The only difference between a bone marrow transplant and a stem cell transplant is that in stem cell transplant the cells are transplanted into the peripheral blood rather than the bone marrow. These cells could either be obtained from the patient’s own preserved umbilical cord or placenta, or the bone marrow.

The stem cells are said to be pluripotent in nature which means that they can develop into any type cells when exposed to appropriate stimulus. Hematopoietic stem cells are used to replace the blood-forming cells in the body.

Why does a patient need a Stem Cell Transplant?

There are certain diseases in which the body loses its ability to produce new health and proper functioning stem cells. Or, there is a problem with the existing cells.

Certain genetic conditions such as Sickle Cell Anemia, thalassemia etc. result in the production of abnormal red blood cells. A stem cell transplantation from a healthy individual can help to treat the disease.

Also, certain cancers such as leukemia and lymphomas require stem cell transplant because chemotherapy usually destroys all the viable ones. It is done to restore the body’s ability to produce new healthy blood cells.

Where do we obtain these cells from?

The stem cells can be obtained from the patient itself (autologous transplant), or from a relative or any person who is a match (allogeneic transplant), or from an identical twin if any.

The allogeneic transplant poses a risk of rejection which may require life-long immunosuppressant therapy which usually increases the cost of stem cell transplant.

How much does the Stem Cell Transplant cost?

The costs depend on the disease severity, hospital chosen, exchange rates, transplant technique, doctor’s fees etc. The patient needs to keep a lot of factors in mind such as travel costs, visa costs, follow-up care, eligibility, and also the matching donor.

A regular uncomplicated stem cell transplant costs around 15 lakhs if the donor is a relative. If the patient has to go to the procedure of finding a matching donor and obtaining its stem cell, the cost of the stem cell transplant increases to around 20-25 lakhs more.

All of these costs exclude the accommodation and travel costs which apply for patients who choose India to get their treatments done. This cost is way less than the patients have to pay in developed countries such as USA, UK and the rest of Europe. In India, we provide the same quality of care and expert doctors and physician at around one-sixth the cost in western countries.

Is Leukemia Treatable?

What is a Leukaemia?

This is the first question that comes into our mind, doesn’t it? It is a type of blood cancer in which there is an abnormal over-production of the white blood cells in the body. These excess white blood cells come in the way of normal functioning blood cells. As a result, the infection-fighting capacity of an individual is hampered.

Due to the excessive formation of abnormal white blood cells, the deficiency of normal functional WBC starts occurring. As a result, the immune system of the body starts shutting down. This means body can no longer fight the various disease-causing micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi etc.

Leukemia is most commonly found in children but that doesn’t mean that adults don’t get it. Leukemia can be both fast-growing and slowly developing. This distinction is important as it determines the course of leukemia treatment for an individual. The major difference between the acute and chronic leukemia is that in the former the condition worsens in a very short time while in the latter the condition still worsens but at a comparatively slower pace.

What are the Risk factors?

Like all other cancers, leukemia doesn’t have a specific causal factor. But it has known association with genetic and familial factors. Also, an individual can develop leukemia after undergoing the chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for other types of cancer.

Children suffering from Down’s syndrome (a genetic disorder) are more prone to develop leukemia.

Adults who smoke and are exposed to radiation and benzene for a long time have shown some level of association with blood cancers.

Patients with a history of “Myelodysplastic Syndromes” or “Pre-leukemia” can also develop some form of leukemia in later life. This makes leukemia treatment quite difficult.

What are the symptoms of Leukaemia?

The symptoms of leukemia include:

Excessive sweating, especially at night (called “night sweats”), fatigue and weakness, unexplained weight loss, bone pain and tenderness, swollen lymph nodes, enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly) or spleen (splenomegaly), red spots on the skin (known as petechiae), easy bruising and bleeding, fever or chills and patient becomes more prone to infections.

The blood cancer can also spread to other organs such as the brain, liver, heart, kidneys etc. This spread of tumor can result in malfunctioning of the organ system and this, in turn, can produce another set of symptoms.

How is Leukaemia diagnosed?

The most basic test done to diagnose blood cancer is the “Complete Blood Count”. It is pretty obvious because that way we can determine the abnormal number of cells in the blood. Also, looking at WBCs, RBCs, and the Platelets will also tell about the abnormal appearance of the cells.

A biopsy is the second most important method to determine the stage, type, and spread of leukemia. The biopsy of the bone marrow and lymph nodes can be done. Tissue biopsies of various organs can be done to assess the spread of cancer.

How is Leukaemia treated?

Treatment of any disease, any cancer depends on how early is it detected, at what stage, and how much has it spread. Once the doctor has a clear picture of these above-mentioned factors, he/she can devise a treatment plan which can best suit the patient.

Our doctors are very well capable of doing that. They work meticulously to produce the best possible treatment outcomes of the patient condition.

Some of the most preferred Leukemia treatment methodologies are:

Chemotherapy: It involves using certain drugs that are targeted to kill the cancer cells. The patient can be given a single drug or a combination of drugs to get the desired outcome. But the patient needs to keep in mind the side-effects associated with chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy: In this type of leukemia treatment, the patient is exposed to high-frequency radio waves which help in killing the abnormal mass of cells from the body and further stop them from growing. It also comes with its own set of problems.

Stem cell transplantation: It is the most evolving leukemia treatment methodology being employed to replace the diseased cells with healthy cells. It could involve either the transplant of bone marrow or in the peripheral blood stream. Although, it sounds like a good procedure it relies heavily on availability of a donor.

Immune therapies: This kind of leukemia treatment gives a boost to the body’s immune system which starts recognizing cancer cells as foreign and start attacking them.

Targeted therapy: It makes use of agents/drugs that target the vulnerabilities in cancer cells. Imatinib is one such drug is specifically used for the treatment of CML.

Is it permanent?

The main question that is being faced by the oncologists all over the world is that “will the cancer return?” Sadly, nobody has an answer to that. But that does not stop anyone to take a chance and get themselves treated.

It has been reported that 5-year survival rate for leukemia is around 60% which are pretty good odds, we believe!

About BloodCancerCure:

Is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia treatable?

What is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)?

CLL is a type of blood cancer which occurs due to abnormal production of a certain type of blood cell known as “Lymphocytes”. Cancer is basically a drastic increase in a certain type of cells in the body. This sudden and uncontrolled production also causes a change in the basic morphology and genetics of the cell.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia occurs due to excessive proliferation of B-cells. B-cell is an important type of lymphocyte which is involved with the production of antibodies.

The main difference between the “Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML)” and “Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)” is the cells of their origin. The CML has its roots from myeloid-type stem cells while the CLL originates from lymphoid-type.

What are the Symptoms of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia?

The CLL occurs mostly in adult males of 50 years of age. The disease is less prevalent in Asian countries. Countries like India and other South-East Asian countries are increasingly becoming hotspots for treatment of leukemia due to the low costs and highly specialized team.

Some of the most common symptoms found in the CLL patients which ring a bell with the doctors to get a diagnosis are:

Fever and chills
Anemia
Weight loss with an unknown cause.
Swelling of lymph nodes
Enlargement of the spleen

The disease has certain risk factors, but no specific known agent is associated with the disease. Studies have proven that CLL is known to have a genetic association. Also, CLL is more prevalent in individuals who are exposed to a certain chemical known as “Agent Orange” and some other insecticides.

How is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia diagnosed?

The CLL is a slow-growing disease which is usually detected accidentally during routine blood tests. The disease is diagnosed only after it has been spread to organs such as spleen, liver etc.

India is a medically advancing countries with several state-of-the-art medical and diagnostic centers. These are fully equipped with all the latest equipment and trained staff.

Following are the few tests used to determine the type, severity, and spread of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia:

Complete blood counts
Flow cytometry to detect the physical and chemical characteristics of the B-cells.
Bone marrow biopsy
Lymph node biopsy

The main feature that distinguishes Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia from lymphoma is its origin. Leukemia starts from the bone marrow while lymphoma is the type of cancer that has its origin in the lymph nodes and the lymphatic system.

What is the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia?

It is the cancer of B-lymphocytes. The treatment is to some extent possible by managing the disease using various therapies. The treatment depends upon the following factors:

Spread of CLL
Stage of CLL

Firstly, after the diagnosis of CLL is confirmed, the doctors just give a symptomatic treatment of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The disease does not always need an aggressive approach. It has been reported that in some cases patients may survive up to 5-8 years after the diagnosis, without any treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In patients with advanced stages of the disease, doctors may adopt aggressive treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The following treatment approaches can be used:

Chemotherapy: It involves the killing of cancer cells. This type of treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia brings the cell count to almost normal.

Targeted drug therapy: These specifically designed treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia only affects the few targeted cells.
Immunotherapy: It uses substances which enhance the patient’s immune system as a part of treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Stem cell transplant: It can be done before or after the chemotherapy to make up for all the lost healthy cells due to the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia as well as due to the disease.
No matter what the disease is, our doctors can surely help you. Indian hospitals are fully equipped to successfully treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Contact us via an email or call us on our helpline number. Visit our website www.bloodcancercure.com for complete information.

What is BloodCancerCure:

How painful is bone marrow biopsy?

What is a Biopsy?

Let us start with the most basic question: what is a biopsy? “Biopsy” is a type of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure which involves the extraction of cells or tissues or a suspected mass from the body to examine it under the microscope. It is the most reliable way to confirm the diagnosis, type, and extent of cancer in the body.

What is Bone Marrow Biopsy?

Let us now come to the main topic. Bone marrow biopsy is an evaluation procedure in which the marrow tissue is obtained to be studied under the microscope. It is done to evaluate the different types of blood cells and the structure of the marrow.

Doctors advise a bone marrow biopsy when they find the discrepancy in the levels of WBCs or RBCs or platelets in the blood. It gives them a fair idea of the reason for this kind of discrepancy. A bone marrow biopsy has proven to be an effective diagnostic tool for various kinds of marrow and other blood cell-related disorders.

Why is the Bone Marrow Biopsy done?

Due to the reliability and sensitivity of the test, a bone marrow biopsy is considered to be a “gold standard” test for diagnosing and confirming any marrow related disorder. There are several conditions for which it is indicated. Mostly, it is used in diagnosing and determining the various types of blood cancers such as the Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), Multiple Myeloma, Lymphomas (both Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s) etc. Also, it is done to find out the cause of severe persistent anemia, pancytopenia (decrease in the number of all three types of blood cells, namely, red cells, white cells, and platelets) or abnormal count of any of the three blood cells.

Marrow biopsy can sometimes prove useful to “evaluate a fever of unknown origin”, or to investigate abnormal bleeding or clotting times, to identify rare genetic diseases and some stem cell disorders and to monitor the iron overload conditions.

How is Bone Marrow Biopsy done?

Bone marrow biopsy is a fairly regular procedure with very fewer side-effects. The most commonly used sites for obtaining the marrow are the large pelvic bone near the hip (posterior iliac crest) and breastbone (sternum). In kids, marrow is generally taken from the shin bone (tibia).

The actual procedure of the bone marrow biopsy consists of two parts: the marrow aspiration (which obtains the sample of the liquid portion of the marrow) and the bone marrow biopsy (which is concerned with obtaining the solid portion). The biopsy can be performed in a hospital setting or a pathologic lab by the trained personnel.

The patient is made to lie on the side or on their back and then the area is numbed with a local anesthetic agent. The doctor inserts the needle and at this time the patient may experience sharp pain. The needle goes into the bone and extracts the bone marrow. The site is bandaged and the patient is good to go.

What needs to be kept in mind while undergoing the Bone Marrow Biopsy?

The patient should give a detailed and clear medical history to the doctor before getting started with the procedure. This should include any medications or allergies, any history of bleeding disorders, pregnancy status, or anxiety issues.

The patient should be calm and composed during the procedure. All the doubts or issue the patient might have should be taken care off by the physician in a satisfactory manner.

What are the risks associated with the Bone Marrow Biopsy?

As we already stated, bone marrow biopsy is a simple procedure. It can be performed without any difficulty with the help of a well-trained staff. But as we know nothing in this world is risk-free. It is reported that less than 1% of patients have suffered from some kind of complications with bone marrow biopsy.

Some of the common problems associated with the procedure are the allergy to anesthesia, infections or chronic pain. The major risks are haemorrhaging or excessive bleeding.

We believe we should address the particular side-effect of the procedure: “the chronic pain”. Ideally, on an average pain related to the procedure is short-lived. According to some studies, the duration of pain is said to be associated with the duration of and difficulty during the procedure.

A reduced level of anxiety and increased awareness of the procedure goes a long way in improving the outcomes.

About BloodCancerCure:

Is there any treatment or medication for patients with Sickle Cell trait?

What is a Sickle Cell Trait?

Sickle cell trait is a defect in the genetic make-up of an individual. This results in the occurrence of abnormally sickle-shaped red blood cells with a defective hemoglobin chain (HbS). The patient suffering from sickle cell disease often suffers from oxygen deficiency to various vital organs of the body.

Is it completely Curable?

There is no sure shot cure for genetic disorders although a variety of treatment options have been tried. Bone marrow transplant has shown some promising results but as of now, it is not that commonly used. It is contraindicated in patients suffering from severe disease. Bone marrow transplantation as sickle cell anemia treatment has shown the most promising results in children who are below the age of 16 years due to fewer complications.

How are patients with the disease treated?

No matter how trivial the disease is, our doctors can take care of it. There is no particular sickle cell anemia treatment but symptomatic relief is possible. Sickle cell anemia treatment is a lifelong thing. The treatment involves a number of specialists such as a pediatrician, a hematologist, a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, a neurologist and an emergency medicine doctor.

Loading the patient with the optimal amount of intravenous fluids to help against the rehydration is an important measure. This helps the RBCs to return to their normal state. This sickle cell anemia treatment helps to prevent RBCs to turn back to being sickle shaped due to dehydration.

Blood transfusions have greatly proved to be a helpful sickle cell anemia treatment measure. It helps to improve the blood oxygen and facilitate the transport of nutrients to all parts of the body. Before the transfusion, packed red cells are removed from the donor blood. Patients receiving a lot of blood transfusions may also require iron chelation therapy to reduce the excess amount of iron from the body.

Sickle cell anemia treatment also involves taking care of persistent infectious conditions. It is an imperative part of managing the crisis. The patient is given antibiotics as soon as an infection is detected as the stress of infection can cause complications for the patients. The patients are more prone to infections than other patients. So as a part of the sickle cell anemia treatment, immunizations for various types of common infections can be given. Vaccines may include “Hepatitis-B vaccine” or the annual flu vaccine.

Pain medications are also a part of sickle cell anemia treatment. These are routinely prescribed by the physician. The medication may get as strong as morphine during the crisis. Some over the counter drugs can also be used.

Since there is a lack of oxygen, provision of supplemental oxygen through a mask has given some positive results in the sickle cell anemia treatment.

Some drugs that increase the production of fetal hemoglobin are being used in sickle cell anemia treatment. These reduce the requirement for blood transfusions. The drug of choice is hydroxyurea. It has shown some promising results in these patients. Hydroxycarbamide can also be used to lower other blood cells such as white cells or the platelets. But in order to use it’s regular blood tests are mandatory.

Other necessary surgeries and treatment modalities can be used for other complications such as the gallstones, or the heart and chest problems, priapism, leg ulcers, or stroke, or the acute chest syndrome.

What are the other home-based needs of the patients?

Along with these medical measures, any disease requires a long-term home-based care regime. It is always difficult for the patient to recover or feel better without the support of their family and friends. Sickle cell anemia treatment even though its symptomatic requires regular care of the patient. Some of the common measures include taking folic acid supplements, using heating pads for pain relief, drinking an adequate amount of water to counteract dehydration etc. Exercising regularly and reducing stress also helps a lot.

Sickle cell anemia treatment is a tricky thing to do. Doctors are trained to do that but it is always difficult for the caregivers. Any slight chance of infection should be treated promptly and adequately with doctor’s intervention.

Can it be prevented?

All of this considered the best Sickle Cell Anemia treatment is prevention. This calls for mandatory genetic counseling for a couple. Even individuals should get to know their sickle cell gene status.

What is BloodCancerCure:

What exactly does a bone marrow transplant procedure look like?

What exactly does Bone Marrow Transplant procedure look like

The bone marrow is a crucial tissue in the body. Any problem with it shows very drastically on the entire body.

What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

The bone marrow is a store for all types of hematopoietic stem cells. Any damage to this tissue is a direct hindrance to the blood cells. The blood cells perform various important functions in the body such as transport of oxygen and nutrients, fighting infections, maintaining the body temperature etc. the blood consists of various cells such as red blood cells, the white blood cells (plasma cells, lymphocytes, natural killer cells, leukocytes etc.), and the platelets.

When the bone marrow fails to produce the desired number of blood cells due to any reason, a doctor prescribes a bone marrow transplant. It works on the basic principle that replacing the diseased marrow with a healthy one obtained from a healthy compatible donor.

The diseases which debilitate bone marrow are aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma or certain myelodysplastic syndromes.

What is required for a Bone Marrow Transplant procedure?

Any medical procedure which involves the exchange of an organ or a tissue or a substance for that matter requires a strict protocol. The success and the failure of the bone marrow transplant procedure depend on this.

Firstly, the donor. The patient whose bone marrow is not working properly is advised by the doctor to get a bone marrow transplant. Usually, all the blood relatives of the patient are examined to see if they are a match.

Matching is a very important step as it can really make or break a transplant. the most important component is the “HLA matching”. Human Leukocyte Antigen or HLA is a protein present on the cell surface. This protein or marker is used by the immune system to differentiate any cell from being foreign. If the HLA matching is not done correctly, the body rejects the tissue and results in a series of complications. The immune system mounts a full-blown attack on the foreign tissue.

How is the patient prepared for a Bone Marrow Transplant procedure?

Bone marrow transplant procedure takes a minimum of a week in the hospital. The patient and the donor’s family are asked to make suitable arrangements for their stay, leaves from the jobs, and other family members.

Doctors also run a full-blood and medical workup to eliminate all kinds of debilitating illnesses. The patient is required to complete his/her Chemotherapy before receiving the new stem cells so as to gain a better effect.

The recipient is generally immunocompromised till the new cells become active. In order to protect the patient from any kind of infection, he/she is kept in a place which is reserved for people receiving bone marrow transplants. This is done to reduce the chances of exposure to infectious agents.

What is the procedure for a Bone Marrow Transplant?

When all the tests are done, and all the formalities are completed, the doctor gives a red flag for the transplantation. A bone marrow transplant procedure is very much comparable to a blood transfusion.

In the case of an autologous transplant, the cells are collected before commencing the cancer treatment. In some cases, a patient is transfused with stem cells both before and after the procedure to achieve better results.

If the patient is receiving an allogeneic transplant, the cells are retrieved from the donor 1-2 days prior to the transplant.

The cells are taken with the help a needle which is inserted in the hip bone. The patient is usually given local anesthesia.

What is Leukapheresis?

It is a procedure in which the donor is given a certain drug which facilitates the movement of the stem cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood. This makes the harvesting of the tissue during the bone marrow transplant procedure easier. The blood from the donor is then obtained through an intravenous (IV) line. It is connected to a machine which separates the stem cells from other components of the blood and returns the rest of it to the donor.

The next step in the bone marrow transplant procedure is the transfer of the stem cells in the recipient. The stem cells are directly made to flow into the heart using a central venous port which is installed in the upper right portion of the patient’s chest. The heart pumps the cells directly into the bloodstream from where it reaches the bone marrow. The most important part of the bone marrow transplant procedure is the establishment of stem cells in the bone marrow of the recipient.

The patient undergoes multiple sessions to help stem cells to properly integrate themselves to the body. this process is known as “Engraftment”.

The patient is closely monitored by doctors to look for any signs of rejection or other complications.

About BloodCancerCure:

What is a bone marrow? Why do some people need bone marrow transplants?

What do we mean by a Bone Marrow?

Let’s see! When we say bone marrow, we mean the soft, yellowish, gelatinous component present inside the bone. Bone is a hard structure and it is of two types mainly, the spongy and the cortical bone. The spongy bone is comparatively less hard and contains the active form of red bone marrow. On the other hand, cortical bone is strong and dense.

The red marrow consists of all the Myeloid cells and other precursor cells whereas the yellow bone marrow mainly consists of the fatty tissue.

Its function is the formation and maturation of new blood cells in the body, which is our main concern for now.

What are the diseases associated with the Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow is a tissue which performs a number of important functions. It acts as a reserve for stem cells and as well as storage of fatty tissue. Any problem with this issue and it can directly affect the working of the body.

Some of the diseases in which the bone marrow is compromised are:

Sickle Cell Anaemia
Thalassemia, both major and minor
Polycythaemia Vera
Myelodysplastic syndrome
Aplastic Anaemia
Leukemia and Lymphoma

Some of these diseases are genetic such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia while the other is acquired such as aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome or polycythemia Vera etc. Generally, the bone marrow cancers can be both genetic and acquired as their exact cause is unknown.

What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

A transplant is a medical term in which a diseased organ or tissue in a patient is replaced with a healthy one. In case a bone marrow becomes diseased or cancerous, the patient is advised by the doctor to get a bone marrow transplant.

It is a highly specialized and effective procedure to completely cure certain diseases, especially in children. In this procedure, the patient is transplanted with a new, healthy marrow to compensate for the earlier one’s inability to make new cells.

There are basically three types of bone marrow transplants that can be done:

Autologous Transplant: “Auto- means self”. The healthy tissue is obtained from the patient. This reduces any chances for rejection and other complications. It is usually done before and after the Chemotherapy treatment in cancer patients.

Allogenic Transplant: In this case, the bone marrow is obtained from a donor with proper matching protocols and is inserted into the diseased individual. It is done in cases where the recipient’s bone marrow is completely compromised and cannot produce any healthy cells. Allogenic transplant poses a high risk of infection and chances of rejection.

Syngeneic Transplant: It involves procuring the tissue from a healthy identical twin.

How is Bone Marrow Transplant done?

Due to successful results in treating various complex disorders and few risks involved, the bone marrow transplant is being done all over the world.
The first step in any transplant procedure is “finding a suitable donor”. The patient is put on a transplant list and is matched with a donor with the same blood type, HLA and other antigens compatible. Also, all the blood relatives of the patients are checked to see if their marrow matches with the recipient.

Once the donor is found, both the donor and the recipient undergo a surgery. The surgeon procures the marrow either from the sternum (breastbone) or the tibia in children. Before obtaining the tissue, the donor is given certain growth factors to promote the active proliferation of the cells.

Once it is obtained, it is stored and processed to be infused into the recipient. The bone marrow transplant is a fairly safe procedure, but it sure does have a few risks. The risks associated with a transplant are an infection, rejection or failure and most importantly the “Graft vs Host Disease (GVD)”.

Related FAQs:

1) Q: Can bone marrow transplant cure both malignant and non-malignant cancers?

A: Yes, both type of cancers can be treated with a bone marrow transplant. Some of the diseases which can be cured with BMT includes- acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, adrenoleukodystrophy, lymphomas, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, neuroblastoma, multiple myeloma, and primary amyloidosis etc.

2) Q: Who can be considered as a donor for an allogeneic transplant?

A: Any healthy person with closely matching stem cells can be considered as a donor. In this mainly related donors like parents and siblings are initially tested for a bone marrow match.

3) Q: Can umbilical cord blood bank help during bone marrow transplant?

A: Yes, if you have already enrolled for the paid service of any cord blood bank for saving the umbilical cord of your newborn baby. Then you must reach out to them for saving any of your relative’s life if it is a close match with the patient’s stem cells.

Can a sickle cell crisis occur in patient with Sickle Cell trait?

Can sickle cell crisis occur in patient with Sickle Cell trait?

Sickle Cell disease is a complex disorder:

Sickle cell disease has a large number of complications along with a variety of types. It is basically an autosomal recessive trait. This means that the gene for the sickle cell disease should come from both the parents. A patient with only one sickle cell gene is known to be a carrier of sickle cell trait.

It is a condition in which the patient suffers from various chronic symptoms which occur due to deficient blood or oxygen supply to various important organs. In sickle cell crisis, the abnormally shaped sickle cell red blood cells tend to stick to the arterial wall and cause attacks of severe, sudden pain or “Pain Crisis”. The intensity of pain and frequency of episodes of pain can increase with increasing age. The number of hospitalizations just tend to show only a marginal amount of patient suffering. The severity and intensity of pain for those who do not reach the hospital is still unknown. The crisis has its manifestation in a variety of organs of the body such as eyes, heart, lungs, limbs etc. In order to have a better understanding of the sickle cell crisis, we shall try to understand its effects on the body.

Firstly, we shall look into the neurological deficits. A patient suffering from sickle cell crisis may have seizure episodes, strokes or coma in some patients. It occurs due to deficient supply of blood to the brain.

The spleen is an important organ which consists of a lot of small and big arteries. When during the cell crisis, the splenic vessels are blocked, doctors call it “splenic sequestration”. As a result, of which spleen may become enlarged and may have to be removed. Also, in some cases, the spleen itself stops working due to lack of oxygen and starts shrinking. It shrinks until it is no longer viable. This is termed as “auto splenectomy”. The operation is known a “splenectomy”. The major function of the spleen is to protect against infections. The patients which have undergone splenectomy are more prone to infections such as Haemophilus, influenza, and streptococcus.

When in the crisis, the blood vessels of the hand and feet are blocked, the result is the swelling of hands and feet. It can also lead to leg ulcers. It is one of the first signs of sickle cell disease in the infants.

Another complication associated with the Sickle Cell crisis is heart and chest disease symptoms. The lack of oxygen in the blood cause problems such as heart attack, heart failures, and abnormal heart rhythms. As a result, there is the weakening of heart muscle. Over a period of time, chronic sickle cell crisis causes moderate to severe damage to the lungs. The result of which is pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) or pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs). The long-term damage to lung further reduces the oxygen supply and can cause frequent episodes of sickle cell crisis.

A severe type of crisis is “sickle chest syndrome”. It is a condition which is associated with chest pains, cough, fever, sputum production, shortness of breath, and low blood oxygen levels. X-ray shows either pneumonia or dead lung tissue. The sickle chest syndrome worsens the prognosis for the patients.

But let us talk about the individuals with the so-called “sickle cell trait”. These individuals do not suffer from any of the complications of the sickle cell disease. They carry the gene for the disease and can even transfer the disease but do not suffer from the disease. If a person with sickle cell trait marries another person with the disease or the trait, their child is likely to develop the severe form of the disease. Since it is an inherited disease, pre-marital genetic counseling should be mandatory. Various hospitals in India, offer good quality counselors and gene tests which can adequately tell the patients about their genetic make-up. It helps one to understand preventive measures, possible treatments, and reproductive options.

So, we can safely say that a person having a sickle cell trait does not suffer from sickle cell crisis. He/she might suffer from mild anemia though which can/cannot be attributed to the sickle cell syndrome.

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is the world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.