Who Can Undergo a Bone Marrow, Stem Cell or Cord Blood Transplant?
A blood stem cell transplant is a rigorous medical procedure. In order to determine if you are a good candidate for a transplant, your medical team will consider your:
- age
- general physical condition
- diagnosis
- stage of your disease
- prior treatment history
- availability of a blood stem cell donor, unless you are using your own cells for transplant
Medical Tests to Determine if You are a Good Candidate for Transplant
Tests on your heart, lungs, kidneys and other vital organs will be done prior to transplant to ensure you can tolerate the procedure. These typically include:
- a MUGA scan/echocardiogram/EKG to measure your heart function
- a pulmonary function test to measure the health of your lungs
- a chest x-ray/CT scan to check for lung problems and infection
- blood work and urine tests to measure
- blood counts
- kidney function
- liver function
- past exposure to infectious diseases
- tests to check the status of your disease
- a full physical exam and health history
- a dental exam
You will also meet with a social worker or psychologist to discuss your emotional health, as well as a financial counselor who will help you with insurance approvals and financial issues.
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Next Page: How Bone Marrow and Stem Cells are Collected
Updated August, 2023
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