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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more| .
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Bone marrow is found inside some of our bones and produces all the red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood. Stem cells are immature blood cells, found in the bone marrow, which develop into the blood cells. Stem cells can be taken from the bone marrow or collected from the bloodstream.
A stem cell transplant| is a treatment that allows very high doses of chemotherapy| to be given. The chemotherapy destroys the cells in your bone marrow, including the leukaemic cells. You are then given a drip (infusion) of stem cells to replace your own destroyed marrow, so that your body can continue to produce the blood cells you need.
It is possible to have stem cells donated by someone else (allogeneic transplant) or your own stem cells (autologous transplant) which have been previously collected and frozen until you need them.
Allogeneic transplants may use stem cells from a brother or sister with bone marrow that closely resembles your own. If you do not have a relative able to donate stem cells, you may have stem cells from someone else. In this case tests will be done to ensure the stem cells are as close a match as possible.
Stem cell transplants are still an experimental treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. It is usually only suitable for younger people. If you are offered this treatment, it will normally be as part of a clinical trial. Results for autologous transplants suggest that the higher doses of chemotherapy can result in long remissions, but there is no evidence yet that this procedure can cure CLL.
Some people may be offered a ‘mini-transplant’. This is a type of allogeneic transplant and involves smaller doses of chemotherapy drugs being given. The stem cells are then given by infusion after the chemotherapy treatment. The side effects are much less than for a standard stem cell transplant. This is still an experimental treatment for people with CLL.
We have a section on stem cell and bone marrow transplants| which contains detailed information about these types of treatment.
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