The decision to have the marrow transplant is not easy for families, Whitten-Shurney says. There's only one small study showing outcomes up to 9 years after a transplant. The results were presented earlier this month at an American Society of Hematology meeting, Whitten said. There were four deaths, and four transplants were unsuccessful. About one in five experienced serious side effects from the chemotherapy, radiation and immuno-suppressant drugs used to ensure the marrow is not rejected.
Families have to weigh benefits and risks.
I don't even know what I'd do, if I were in that situation. The transplant involves mild doses of radiation and chemotherapy to kill a person's unhealthy marrow. But the procedure takes its toll. Albert lost his hair. He got a rash all over his body and sores in his mouth.