Bone marrow transplant is the procedure to replace the bone marrow that is not producing enough healthy blood stem cells with healthy blood-forming cells. Another name for bone marrow transplant is a stem cell transplant. You might need this transplant treatment if your bone marrow stops working or does not produce healthy blood cells. For a bone marrow transplant, you can use your own cells (autologous transplant) or cells from a prospective donor (allogeneic transplant). Read further if you want to get more information about bone marrow treatment surgery’s cost, procedure, and success rate:
What is Bone Marrow?
Bone marrow is a spongy, soft tissue that contains hematopoietic stem cells. You can find these cells at the center of the bone. Hematopoietic cells are also found in the blood that moves throughout your body. When these cells are damaged, they may not become white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. These various types of blood cells are important, and each one performs different jobs.
Types of Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplant has two major types. The type of transplant you put depends on the reason for your transplant:
· Allogeneic Transplant
In an allogeneic transplant, you will get the cells from the donor. The donor must be your close match genetically. Most often, a relative will be the best choice, but you can also find the donor from the donor registry. This type of transplant is necessary if you have a condition that has totally damaged your bone marrow cells. However, there will be the risk of complications. Probably you may need to put them on medicines to suppress the immune system. It is to stop your body from attacking new cells.
· Autologous Transplants
Autologous Transplant involves the process of using the person’s own cells. This typically involves harvesting the cells even before beginning the damaging therapy to cells like radiation or chemotherapy. After the transplant is over, your own cells are returned to your body. This type of transplant is rare, and it is not always available. It can be used only if you have healthy bone marrow. But, there are fewer risks and complications involved in it, including GVHD.
Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure
The steps necessary to get ready for a bone marrow transplant vary depending on the type of transplant, the disease that requires it, and your tolerance for specific medications. Take into account the following:
The preparations frequently contain high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation. This intensive therapy is necessary to effectively treat cancer and create space in the bone marrow for the development of new cells. Since it affects the bone marrow, this treatment is frequently referred to as ablative or myeloablative. The marrow becomes empty as a result of ablative therapy, which stops the cell-production process.
The marrow transplant is given through a central venous catheter into the bloodstream after chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. The process of inserting the marrow into the bone is not surgical but rather similar to receiving a blood transfusion. Once inside the bone marrow, the stem cells start reproducing and producing fresh, wholesome blood cells.
To prevent and treat infections, treatment-related side effects, and complications after the transplant, supportive care is provided. This ensures regular blood tests, careful observation of vital signs, the exact measurement of fluid intake and output, and daily weigh-ins.
Success of Bone Marrow transplant
Transplants for patients with non-malignant diseases have a much higher success rate. It is a 70% to 90% survival rate with a matched sibling donor and 36% to 65% with unrelated donors. For patients with acute leukemia in remission, the survival rates after transplant range from 26% to 50% if the donor is unrelated. For related patients, it is from 55% to 68%. Transplanting the patient’s own bone marrow from an unaffected bone to a diseased one has improved survival rates for certain cancers such as:
- Ewing sarcoma
- Wilms tumor
- germ cell tumor
- neuroblastoma
The survival rates for metastatic Ewing sarcoma or other pediatric malignant cancers have not been improved by autologous transplants. Patients with stabilized disease or those in remission typically fare better than those with advanced disease or relapse. Patients who are younger have a higher success rate for transplants.
Cost of a Bone Marrow transplant
Both the patient and his/her family go through heavy pain when they live with a disease that significantly impairs their quality of life. The average cost of a bone marrow transplant ranges between $125,000 and $150,000 for allogeneic transplant. For an autologous transplant, it is between $85,000 and $105,000. Factors that influence the price include:
- Infrastructure and location of hospitals
- Length of hospital stay
- The expertise of medical professionals, their staff, and their use of cutting-edge technology
- Any health issues
- Restoration and retraining
- Post-transplant drugs
Medical Tourism to India for Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplant is an expensive surgery therefore many people from countries like the USA or other developed nations can’t afford it in their own country. India has developed a reputation for offering low-cost, high-quality medical care. This leads to patients from around the globe to travel to India where thebone marrow transplant cost is at least 50% – 60% cheaper than any developed nation.
The majority of the doctors working in Indian hospitals received their training at or have experience with hospitals in developed countries. The majority of doctors and nurses speak English fluently. Many Indian hospitals have access to the best medical and diagnostic equipment made by large, international conglomerates. First-rate service and luxury amenities are affordable for even the most budget-conscious travellers.
Bottom Line
As with any procedure, the prognosis and long-term survival for bone marrow transplants can vary greatly from person to person. The success rate of bone marrow transplants has significantly improved as more transplants are being performed for a variety of diseases. The patient must keep in mind that they must receive ongoing follow-up care after a bone marrow transplant.
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