Stem cells are those that grow in the bone marrow, forming the main blood cell types: white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Although they mainly reside in the marrow, stem cells can also be found in the blood.

Because of its effectiveness in killing cancer cells, high dose chemotherapy is, at times, the most effective treatment in the fight against cancer. During the process, however, damage to the bone marrow can occur resulting in lower production of healthy blood cells.

Therefore, stem cells are collected through a process called apheresis and stored before the chemotherapy begins. Afterwards, stem cells are transplanted back into the patient. The stem cell transplant helps increase the body's ability to produce healthy blood cells.

Methodist most frequently performs transplants on adults with:

• multiple myeloma
• germ cell tumors
• some lymphomas
• leukemia

Through the University of Tennessee Blood and Marrow Transplant Center, treatments offered include autologous and allogeneic blood stem cell or marrow transplants and autologous blood stem cell storage. All patients are treated in the Oncology Special Care Unit of Methodist Cancer Center.

Click here for more information on the University of Tennessee Blood and Marrow Transplant Center.