Frequently Asked Questions
Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist Overview
Bone marrow specialists are experts in diagnosing, managing and treating blood & bone marrow transplant and cellular therapies. They are qualified to carry out blood transfusions and other treatments where blood forming cells are concerned.
Conditions & types of diseases treated by Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist
Some conditions treated by bone marrow transplant specialists include:
- 1) Leukaemias
- 2) Lymphomas
- 3) Immune disorders
- 4) Multiple myeloma
- 5) Severe aplastic anaemia
Why do doctors perform bone marrow transplant?
It can be to:
- 1) Regenerate a new immune system
- 2) Replace diseased marrow with healthy marrow
- 3) Replace and restore normal function of bone marrow after it has been exposed to chemotherapy
- 4) Recover from cancer treatment
- 5) Treat conditions like autoimmune diseases, tumours, aplastic anaemia, lupus, leukaemia and more.
Do surgeons transplant the whole bone during the bone marrow transplant process?
No, the stem cells are extracted from the bone marrow either by apheresis ( separating the plasma, leukocytes and platelets) or by a bone marrow harvest (bone marrow is taken from the bones with a needle).
What does a BMT physician do?
The physician sees patients everyday, holds examinations and answers questions the patients and their family may have. The physician keeps in touch with the patient throughout their bone marrow transplant journey.
What does a bone marrow transplant team do?
A bone marrow transplant team can consist of an oncologist, haematologists, anaesthesiologists, and a nursing team. The transplant happens in stages. The team removes marrow from the bones by conducting a bone marrow exam or biopsy. After that, the collected bone marrow is sent off to a lab where the stem cells are extracted from the marrow and is ready for transplantation. The transplantation is conducted and the patient is closely monitored.
How much does a surgeon cost for a bone marrow transplant?
A surgeon’s cost depends on their education, experience, the procedure they choose to carry out and the location of the clinic.