Understanding the blood and marrow transplant process
The blood and marrow transplant (BMT) process can look different for everyone. (You might also hear people call BMT a blood stem cell transplant or a bone marrow transplant.) Factors like the type of transplant, your overall health and your specific diagnosis all play a role. Still, there are steps most patients can expect as they prepare for and go through a transplant.
Whether you’re receiving cells from a donor (allogeneic) or using your own cells (autologous) this page will help you understand what’s ahead.
For more details on the steps of an allogeneic transplant, explore our transplant timeline.
The different types of blood and marrow transplants
Depending on your disease diagnosis, you can expect to undergo one of two types of BMT.
Allogeneic transplant
An allogeneic transplant replaces your diseased cells with healthy ones from a donor—usually either a family member, an unrelated donor or donated cord blood. Doctors use proteins called human leukocyte antigens (HLA) to find your best donor match. This can be a full match, a partial match or a haploidentical (half) match.
Autologous transplant
An autologous transplant uses your own blood-forming cells, collected and frozen until they’re returned after chemotherapy or radiation.
Preparing for transplant
No matter which transplant you need, many things happen in the days and weeks leading up to your transplant. You will:
What to expect on transplant day
Usually, 1 or 2 days after you finish your preparative regimen you’ll receive your new cells. The day of transplant is often called “day zero.”
Receiving your healthy cells
A transplant is not surgery. Your transplant team will give you (infuse) the healthy cells through your central line that was placed into a large vein in your chest and neck. The cells come in blood bags, similar to the ones used for blood transfusions.
You will be in your hospital room and remain awake. Your transplant team will watch you closely while you get your new cells. They’ll also explain what to expect, how long it might take and how you might feel.
How long does the blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant process take?
Receiving the new cells can take anywhere from less than an hour to a few hours. The length of time depends on the number of cells you receive and how your body responds to the transplant.
Life after transplant
Recovering from a transplant takes time. Your care team will monitor your progress closely in the weeks and months that follow. There are milestones after transplant help track how your body is healing and how well the new cells are working. You’ll need a caregiver throughout your recovery, and most transplant centers require patients to have one.
Ashlee's journey of healing after transplant
After having a transplant for a blood cancer, Ashlee discovered she needed to heal not just physically, but emotionally, too. That healing continues today with support from NMDPSM.
Get ready for transplant with help from NMDP
You don’t have to face the transplant journey alone. NMDP offers free one-on-one support services, resources and education to help you and your loved ones prepare, navigate and heal throughout the process.