How long does it take to recover from a stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma?
You can go home after a couple of weeks, when your counts are high enough to fight infection and prevent bleeding. Or your doctor may tell you to visit the transplant center daily for checkups. It can take 6 months or longer to fully recover from a transplant.
How many times can you have a stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma?
Some doctors recommend that patients with multiple myeloma have 2 autologous transplants, 6 to 12 months apart. This approach is called tandem transplant. Studies show that this may help some patients more than a single transplant. The drawback is that it causes more side effects and as a result can be riskier.
What is the success rate of stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma?
For example, a 2020 study found that the estimated 5-year relative survival rate for stem cell transplants received in 2014 or later was 68 percent, compared to a 5-year relative survival rate of 29 percent for stem cell transplants received in 1997 or earlier.
What can go wrong with a stem cell transplant?
Complications From Transplants Using Your Own Stem Cells infections. interstitial pneumonia (inflammation of the tissue that supports the lungs) liver damage and disease. dry and damaged mouth, esophagus, lungs, and other organs.
What to expect after a stem cell transplant?
After the Stem Cell Transplant Your new immune system starts to work. After two to four weeks, the new stem cells graft to your bone marrow and start to make new white blood cells. If you received donor cells, you will get antibiotics and anti-rejection drugs to help your body accept the transplanted cells.
Is there a complete cure for multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma isn’t considered “curable ,” but symptoms wax and wane. There can be a long period of dormancy that could last several years. However, this cancer usually recurs.
What is the survival rate of a stem cell transplant?
About 25%–40% of people over the age of 60 are expected to survive 3 years or more. If an allogeneic stem cell transplant is done during first remission, the 5-year disease-free survival rate is 30%–50%.
How necessary is a stem cell transplant?
The stem cells cannot produce red blood cells, platelets, or normal white blood cells. A stem cell transplant is necessary to treat these cancers so that healthy normal blood cells can replace the ineffective cells. There are different types of leukemia usually associated with different types of white blood cells.