The transplant

A successful transplant requires a tissue type match and a patient who is healthy enough to proceed. The transplant doctor will determine whether a patient should have a transplant by considering the patient’s general physical condition, diagnosis, and disease stage.

The doctor and treatment team will provide detailed information about the transplant procedure. In short, healthy stem cells are infused into the bloodstream via an IV drip in a hospital room.

The new blood stem cells will migrate to the cavities of a patient’s large bones to engraft and begin to produce normal blood cells. This process can take between 3 to 4 weeks. 

After the new stem cells are infused, the patient will stay in the hospital until enough healthy new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are produced. It can take up to 4 to 8 weeks for a patient’s immune system to defend itself against infection and bleeding.

Learn about the timeline for a stem cell transplant, including the stages completed by a donor.

For more information about the transplant process, please check the NSW Bone Marrow Transplant Network’s Patient Brochure.