Bone Marrow (Stem-Cell) Transplant
A bone marrow transplant, more accurately a hematopoietic stem-cell transplant, replaces diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy blood-forming stem cells. The cells may come from the patient (autologous) or a matched donor (allogeneic). It treats blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma and some other blood and immune disorders, allowing the body to rebuild a healthy blood and immune system.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Bone marrow is where the body makes blood cells. In some blood cancers and marrow disorders, this system is diseased or must be wiped out by intensive treatment, and a stem-cell transplant rebuilds it. The healthy stem cells are infused into the bloodstream — much like a transfusion — after which they travel to the marrow and begin producing new, healthy blood and immune cells (a process called engraftment).
There are two main types. In an autologous transplant, the patient's own stem cells are collected and stored, then returned after high-dose chemotherapy. In an allogeneic transplant, stem cells come from a matched donor — a relative or an unrelated matched donor — which can also provide an immune effect against the cancer. Before the infusion, conditioning treatment (chemotherapy, sometimes with radiotherapy) prepares the body. Because the immune system is temporarily very weak, patients are cared for in a protected environment with close monitoring.
International patients are supported by a coordinator with a clear plan and a transparent, itemized cost estimate before travel, including the expected weeks of inpatient care and follow-up. Because transplant spans weeks, the team explains which parts are best done on site and how monitoring continues afterwards; specialists can review records remotely for complex cases.
Who is a candidate?
- People with leukemia or lymphoma who may benefit from a stem-cell transplant
- Patients with multiple myeloma, often treated with an autologous transplant
- Those with certain other blood, marrow or immune disorders
- People with a suitable matched donor (relative or unrelated) for an allogeneic transplant
- Patients well enough for intensive conditioning and a period of protected inpatient care
- People seeking a specialist second opinion on whether transplant is appropriate
What happens
- 1
Assessment and matching
A full assessment confirms suitability and which type of transplant — autologous or allogeneic — is appropriate. For an allogeneic transplant, donor matching identifies the best-matched donor.
- 2
Stem-cell collection
For an autologous transplant, your own stem cells are collected and stored. For an allogeneic transplant, the matched donor's cells are collected, usually from the blood, ahead of the transplant.
- 3
Conditioning
High-dose chemotherapy, sometimes with radiotherapy, prepares the body by clearing diseased marrow and making space for the new cells. This is an intensive part of treatment.
- 4
The transplant (infusion)
The healthy stem cells are infused into the bloodstream like a transfusion. They travel to the marrow and begin producing new blood cells over the following weeks (engraftment).
- 5
Recovery and monitoring
You are cared for in a protected environment while your immune system is weak, with close monitoring for infection and, after an allogeneic transplant, for graft-versus-host disease. Recovery and immune rebuilding continue over months.
Benefits
- Can be curative for some leukemias, lymphomas and other blood disorders
- Rebuilds a healthy blood-forming and immune system after intensive treatment
- An allogeneic transplant can add an immune effect against the cancer
- An autologous transplant uses the patient's own cells, avoiding donor matching
- Delivered by a specialized team in a protected, closely monitored environment
Risks & considerations
- A period of very low blood counts with a high risk of infection requiring protected care
- Graft-versus-host disease after an allogeneic transplant, which the team monitors and treats and which, in severe cases, can be serious or life-threatening
- Especially with an allogeneic (donor) transplant, this is an intensive, high-risk treatment: despite every precaution there is a real risk of serious complications and, in some cases, a risk to life from graft-versus-host disease, severe infection or the effects of conditioning
- Side effects of high-dose conditioning chemotherapy and any radiotherapy
- Bleeding and the need for transfusions during recovery
- A demanding treatment requiring weeks of inpatient care and months of follow-up
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Comprehensive Transplant Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Bone Marrow (Stem-Cell) Transplant — frequently asked questions
An autologous transplant uses your own stem cells, collected and returned after high-dose chemotherapy. An allogeneic transplant uses cells from a matched donor, which can also provide an immune effect against the cancer but requires careful donor matching and monitoring for graft-versus-host disease.
No. The transplant is an infusion of stem cells into the bloodstream, given much like a transfusion and usually needing no anesthesia. The intensive part is the conditioning treatment beforehand and the protected recovery afterwards.
After conditioning, your immune system is temporarily very weak, so you are cared for in a protected environment with close monitoring until your new marrow begins producing blood cells. This typically takes several weeks.
Yes. Share your diagnosis, pathology and reports and our specialists provide an independent opinion on whether a transplant is appropriate and which type, before you commit to travel.
A stem-cell transplant usually means several weeks of inpatient care plus months of monitoring locally and after returning home — your coordinator confirms the plan. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case, rather than a fixed online price, because each transplant plan is individual.
Related treatments
Considering bone marrow (stem-cell) transplant?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.