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
• 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.

(To view this page in Spanish click here [1])

Next Page: How Bone Marrow and Stem Cells are Collected [2]

Updated August, 2023