Know Your Disease Preparation for Transplant Transplant process Patient Stories Myths & Facts - Donation   Become A Donor To join the Registry, you need..Read More   About MDR(I) The MDR(I) is a database of voluntary Donors..Read More   - MDR(I) Registration form - MDR(I) Donation form             > Preparation For Transplant     If you know that BMT is the best treatment for your Patient, you can then prepare yourself & your family for the days ahead. The preparation for a Stem cells transplant can be emotionally & financially traumatic. Talk to your family, learn about the post transplant care & effects. Discuss with physician & his team. Be optimistic. "The success rate of Allogeneic transplants varies according to the disease being treated, the stage of the disease, and the age and condition of the Patient."     Transplant Procedure: From Start to Finish The first step in the process of transplantation is a medical decision of what type of transplant a Patient needs: Autologous or Allogeneic. The second step is collection of Stem Cells from the Patient or Donor. If the cells are taken from the Patient, they are frozen and stored for later use. If the Stem Cells are obtained from a Donor, they are usually infused in the Patient soon after collection. The third step is high-dose treatment in the Patient to kill any remaining cancer cells, commonly referred to as conditioning. Conditioning may consist of high doses of chemotherapy drugs or a combination of total body radiation and chemotherapy. This typically takes three to seven days or longer depending on the regimen. After the Patient receives high-dose treatment, the Stem Cells are infused into the Patient through an intravenous line. The cells find their way to the Bone Marrow, where they divide and mature into cells normally produced by healthy Bone Marrow in a process known as Engraftment. Engraftment almost always occurs in Autologous transplants because the Patient's own blood Stem cells are the most compatible cells. And although engraftment does occasionally fail in Allogeneic transplantation.   Post Transplant Follow Up Because a Patient's immune function is low for several weeks to months after the transplant, isolation in a protected environment was previously thought necessary, but isolation is no longer needed. Follow-up periods differ from one cancer center to the next, but Autologous transplant Patients are typically followed closely for about one month after transplantation before being sent back to their regular oncologist for care. Longer and more intensive follow-up is needed after Allogeneic transplant, and Patients may need to return to the transplant center regularly for at least three months and then continue their follow-up at less frequent intervals for up to a year and beyond.   What is the success rate of Allogeneic transplants? The success rate of Allogeneic transplants varies according to the disease being treated, the stage of the disease, and the age and condition of the Patient. Survival rates (measured at two to three years) are in the range of 40 to 60 percent.