Treatment for cancer
A stem cell transplant allows you to have high doses of chemotherapy and other treatments. Your healthcare team collects the stem cells from the bloodstream or the bone marrow.
This transplant uses your own stem cells to replace blood cells destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and other treatments.
When you have a stem cell transplant using another person’s stem cells, it is called an allogeneic transplant.
Find out who can be a stem cell or bone marrow donor, and how to register.
Radiotherapy to the whole body is called total body irradiation or TBI. You might have TBI as preparation for your stem cell or bone marrow transplant at the same time as high dose chemotherapy and targeted cancer drugs.
The side effects of a stem cell or bone marrow transplant include infection, bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea.
It takes a long time to get over intensive treatment such as a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. You might need to make adjustments to parts of your life.
There are lots of organisations, support groups and helpful books to help you cope with a transplant and its side effects.
Last reviewed: 28 Apr 2026
Next review due: 28 Apr 2029
This section has been written, reviewed and updated by Cancer Research UK’s Patient Information Web Team. Thanks to the expert medical professionals and people affected by cancer who have helped to review this information.
Dr Callum Wright, MA(Cantab), MB BChir (Hons), PhD, MRCP (UK), FRCPath. Academic Clinical Lecturer, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
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