Childhood Cancer

Childhood Cancer

Chapter 18: Stem Cell Transplantation

PERIPHERAL BLOOD STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION (PBSCT) is a complicated procedure used to treat some cancers and blood diseases that were once considered incurable. In this procedure, stem cells in the blood are collected and the child is given high-dose chemotherapy to kill as many cancer cells as possible. After the chemotherapy, the stem cells that were collected earlier are infused into the child’s veins. The stem cells migrate to the cavities inside the bones where new, healthy blood cells are then produced.

Stem cell transplants are expensive, technically complex, and potentially life-threatening. Understanding the procedure and its ramifications at a time of crisis can be tremendously difficult. This chapter explains the type of PBSCT currently used to treat a small number of children with solid tumors, and it shares the experiences of several families.