Stem cell transplant and the benefits attached to it: Psychological preparedness for stem cell transplant
Whether you are a direct or indirect victim, doctor Dalal Akoury will help you professionally through Stem cell transplant so that you can enjoy the full benefit
In the line of medication you will most likely come across this procedure known as stem cell transplant. Whether you are a direct victim or not, knowing what happens with this procedure and even other medications are very important. So many complications could be avoided if people took their time to seek for information about their health and also to take remedial action in good time should something go wrong. For the better part of this discussion we are going to seek professional opinions from experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center headed by doctor Dalal Akoury. Stem cell transplant is also known as a bone marrow transplant which is a clinical procedure that infuses healthy cells known as stem cells into the body primarily to replace any warn out or diseased bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant may also be used to treat certain types of cancer. The primary role of a bone marrow is to produce healthy stem cells. In the event that this function is not done properly, experts will recommend a bone marrow transplant so that healthy production of stem cells can be done effectively. Even as this is done, it is important to note that the bone marrow transplant may use cells from your own body also known as autologous transplant or from a donor which is also referred to us as allogeneic transplant. Now having known what stem cells are our next point of concern would be; why do we need healthy stem cells?
Stem cell transplant and the benefits attached to it: Why it’s done
From the introduction we have just learn that a bone marrow transplant helps in the facilitation of production of healthy stem cells. This is not the only role it plays, there are other functions that it plays thereby help you in many ways including:
- Ensuring safety by allowing treatment of patients conditions with high doses of chemotherapy or radiation
- Replacing diseased or damaged marrow with new stem cells
- Providing new stem cells, which can help kill cancer cells directly
Besides the aforementioned benefits doctor Akoury registers that stem cell transplants can be beneficial to individuals with a variety of both malignant (cancerous) and nonmalignant (noncancerous) diseases, some of which may include the following:
- Acute leukemia
- Bone marrow failure syndromes
- Chronic leukemia
- Plasma cell disorders
- POEMS syndrome
- Adrenoleukodystrophy
- Aplastic anemia
- Hemoglobinopathies
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Immune deficiencies
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Primary amyloidosis
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Multiple myeloma
Stem cell transplant and the benefits attached to it: Risks involve
A lot of professionalism is very vital when opting for stem cell transplant because there are a lot of risks involved. It is therefore necessary that you seek professional counseling before you go through this process. Speaking to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, doctor Dalal Akoury is confirming that some of the risks posed by stem cell transplant may be very risky coming with lots of complications which could be very fatal and life threatening. These risks can be attached to various factors including:
- The type of disease or condition
- The type of transplant and
- The age and health of the person
People respond to treatment differently and experts are saying that even though some people experience few problems with a transplant, it may not be so with other people who are likely to develop complications that may require treatment or hospitalization. Some of these complications could even be life-threatening. Therefore the following are some of the complications that can arise with a stem cell transplant include:
- Graft-versus-host disease which comes with allogeneic transplant only
- Stem cell (graft) failure
- Organ damage
- Infections
- Cataracts
- Infertility
- New cancers
- Death
Some of these conditions are not easy to understand and you will need to consult with your doctor for further explanations concerning all possible risk of complications from a stem cell transplant. During that session of consultation, you can professionally be guided into making the right decision depending on the risks and benefits attached.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): A potential risk when stem cells come from donors
If you receive a transplant that uses stem cells from a donor (allogeneic stem cell transplant), you may be at risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This disease happens when the donor stem cells that make up your new immune system see your body’s tissues and organs as something foreign and attack them.
Even though GVHD can occur at any time after successful transplant, doctor Akoury says that it is more common after the marrows have started to make healthy cells. Many people who have an allogeneic stem cell transplant get GVHD at some point. It is important to note that the risk of GVHD is greater with unrelated donors, even though it can happen to anyone who gets a stem cell transplant from a donor.
There are two kinds of GVHD: acute and chronic. Acute GVHD usually happens earlier, during the first months after your transplant. It typically affects your skin, digestive tract or liver. Chronic GVHD typically develops later and can affect many organs. The following are some of the GVHD signs and symptoms to be concern about:
- Yellow tint to your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Dry mouth
- Joint or muscle pain
- Rash
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Persistent cough
- Mouth sores
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Skin changes, including scarring under the skin
- Vision changes, such as dry eyes
Finally as experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of our MD and President doctor Dalal Akoury we shall have not done you justice if don’t let you know of this year’s integrative addiction conference coming up in June at Austin Texas. This years’ conference workshop adopts partnership and dialog among integrative Medical experts in a nurturing, empowering, motivating, cozy atmosphere. You can reach us at 6505 Interstate Highway-35 North Austin, TX 78752 we are also available on
Telephone number: 512-454-3737 Fax: 512-419-0102 for more information about this great conference.
