Patients > Care by Cancer Type/Topic > Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Transplant

Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Transplant

The possibility of cancer is frightening to the person concerned about their risk, to the patient who has been diagnosed, and to loved ones. When facing a diagnosis of cancer, or the possibility, you want the best team of experts - individuals nationally recognized for their expertise who will provide the information, comfort and support to help each step of the way. That is the goal of the Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

The main purpose of a stem cell transplant in cancer treatment is to make it possible for patients to receive very high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Stem cell transplant replaces stem cells that are destroyed by treatment. The healthy, transplanted stem cells can restore the bone marrow's ability to produce the blood cells the patient needs.

Bone marrow and stem cell transplant is well established as an effective treatment for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. It is also used to treat patients with other types of cancer and hematologic diseases including . Hodgkin's Disease, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myelofibrosis, aplastic anemia, paroxysmal noctural hemoglobinuria (PNH), high risk breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, ovarian cancer, germ cell cancer, central nervous system disease, sarcoma, renal cell cancer, testicular tumors.