Bone marrow and stem cells
Bone marrow is a spongy material that’s found inside some of our hollow bones. The bone marrow contains stem cells. These are cells at a very early stage of development that develop into the three different types of blood cell. When the cells are fully mature, they are released into the bloodstream.
Stem cell transplant
Before a stem cell transplant, stem cells are collected from either the bone marrow or the blood. Your child will then be given very high doses of chemotherapy, usually over a few days. Sometimes, radiotherapy to the whole body, known as total body irradiation (TBI), is also given. As well as destroying any remaining cancer cells, the high doses of chemotherapy also destroy the stem cells in the bone marrow.
After the chemotherapy, your child is given the stem cells that were collected before the treatment through a drip. They make their way into the bone marrow and start producing mature blood cells again.
Types of transplant
There are two main types of transplant:
- Autologous: this uses your child’s own stem cells. The stem cells are collected some time before the high-dose treatment and are stored until needed.
- Allogeneic: this uses stem cells from a donor – it is also known as an allograft. An allogeneic transplant is a more complicated procedure than an autologous one and is only carried out in specialist hospitals. Recovery may take several months or longer.
Watch our video about Ben's stem cell transplant. It tells the Ben who has a donor transplant, and helps young children to understand what to expect.
Read more about stem cell transplants
Ruby's stem cell harvest and transplant
A children's guide to stem cell harvesting and transplant using their own stem cells (autologous transplant). This booklet is designed to help younger children understand their stem cell harvest and transplant, and to explain some of the things that may happen to them.
Ben's stem cell transplant
A children's guide to donor (allogeneic) stem cell transplant. It follows the story of Ben, from his initial visit to the stem cell transplant unit through treatment, managing side effects, exploring emotions and what happens after discharge from hospital.
Jess's bone marrow donation
A children's guide to bone marrow donation. A colourful illustrated story book for young children preparing for a bone marrow donation. It follows the story of Jess, who is donating her bone marrow to help her brother, Ben.
Stem cell transplant
A guide to donor (allogeneic) stem cell transplantation for teenagers and young adults and their families.
Donating your stem cells to your brother or sister
A guide to stem cell (bone marrow) donation for teenagers and young adults and their families. This booklet helps explain about being a stem cell donor for your brother or sister, and describes some of the things that you may experience. It is important that you understand what will happen if you are selected to be a donor.
Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvesting
Information for young people with cancer, and parents of a child or young person with cancer, having a stem cell transplant, and for stem cell donors.