How to Survive a Bone Marrow Transplant

A bone marrow transplant is performed when healthy bone marrow has been destroyed by disease or as a result of radiation or chemotherapy treatments. Bone marrow stem cells may come from your own bone marrow or from a donor's. Bone marrow procedures are normally performed in a medical facility that specializes in this type of treatment. If you have a bone marrow transplant, you'll have to take certain precautions afterward to increase your chances of survival.

Things You'll Need

• Special room
• Hospital care
• Medications
• Blood transfusion

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Instructions

• 1

  After the procedure you are taken to a special room in the hospital that has been sanitized to prevent infection. Visitors wear masks, gowns and gloves. Flowers and plants are prohibited in this special room. You wear a surgical mask and gloves when leaving the room.

• 2

  Normally you are in the hospital four to six weeks, with two to four weeks in the special sanitized room.

• 3

  You get antibiotic and anti-virus medications to prevent infection. You are fed through an intravenous tube until you can eat on your own.

• 4

  You receive blood transfusions increase the white blood cell count and treat or prevent infection.