How do patients receive donated blood stem cells?
Patients receive donated blood stem cells much like a regular blood transfusion. The difference between the two is that before receiving the stem cells, a patient needs to undergo very intensive chemotherapy to wipe out his/her remaining marrow and immune system. Once the immune system is completely destroyed, the donor’s blood stem cells are administered like a blood transfusion. Then, if all goes well, the stem cells will make its way to the patient’s marrow and will start producing new stem cells.
