What is the the ratio of people needing bone marrow transplants for low grade indolent lymphoma non hodkins?
“Need” might not be the right word to use. Low grade NHL is not thought to be cureable with conventional chemotherapy. However, because it is very slow growing, it can usually be controlled or put into remission for many years. So stem cell transplant (SCT or BMT) is not usually offered as a frontline therapy. However, it is often considered at time of relapse. Autologous SCT (using your own cells) can help to induce or sustain a remission. Allogeneic SCT (using donor cells) offer the hope of cure, but no guarantees. Both procedures have higher risks associated with them. Depending on a person’s overall health and the exact specifics of the lymphoma, conventional chemotherapy may offer a better option. This is all best discussed with a stem cell transplant physician who can evaluate the individual case. So, not ratios in this answer. Overall, I would have to guess that more people do not end up having BMT than do, but I am not a data person.
