When an autologous transplant is done, using the patient's own marrow, the first stage of the process is to collect the bone marrow. This is done under a general anaesthetic. To collect the marrow needles are inserted into the bone in several different places and samples of the marrow, which is quite liquid, are sucked out by syringes. Once again a period of intensive monitoring and support is needed while the marrow settles in and starts to take effect. In recent years stem cell transplants have offered an alternative to bone marrow transplants for some people.
Stem cells are the basic cell in the marrow which produces the various blood cells.
Nowadays injections of a special protein, called a growth factor, can be given which causes the marrow to make an excessive number of stem cells. These then spill out into the blood and can be collected. All rights reserved.