Since its first successful use in 1968, BMTs have been used to treat patients diagnosed with leukemia, aplastic anemia, lymphomas such as Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, immune deficiency disorders and some solid tumors such as breast and ovarian cancer. In 1991, more than 7,500 people underwent BMTs nationwide.
Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found inside bones.
The bone marrow in the breast bone, skull, hips, ribs and spine contains stem cells that produce the body's blood cells. The immature or defective blood cells interfere with the production of normal blood cells, accumulate in the bloodstream and may invade other tissues. These therapies, however, not only kill the abnormal cells but can destroy normal cells found in the bone marrow as well. Similarly, aggressive chemotherapy used to treat some lymphomas and other cancers can destroy healthy bone marrow. While bone marrow transplants do not provide 100 percent assurance that the disease will not recur, a transplant can increase the likelihood of a cure or at least prolong the period of disease-free survival for many patients.