Bone Marrow Transplant

Who Requires a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)?

Doctors tend to recommend a BMT for patients whose bone marrow:

• fails to produce adequate healthy blood cells.
• is impacted by cancer.
• is damaged by chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Common conditions requiring BMT include:

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Severe Aplastic Anemia
• Thalassemia
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Immunodeficiency Disorders

Types of Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Procedure

There are three primary forms of BMT:

1. Autologous Transplant: Autologous transplant utilizes the patient's own stem cells. This is commonly employed in the case of chemotherapy-induced cancers.
2. Allogeneic Transplant: Allogeneic transplant utilizes stem cells of a compatible donor. Most often, this is used for inherited disorders of the blood.
3. Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant: Umbilical cord blood transplant utilizes stem cells obtained from a baby's umbilical cord. This is effective when an exact donor match does not exist.

Evaluation and Diagnostics Before Bone Marrow Transplant

Before the transplant, doctors perform a few tests to determine the patient's preparedness. These tests include:

• Blood and bone marrow tests
• HLA typing to match donors
• Heart, lung, and kidney function tests
• Infectious disease screening
• Psychological assessment

Planning for Bone Marrow Transplant

BMT planning involves close coordination among doctors, patients, and even donors when applicable. Although the BMT process isn't a typical operation, it does entail a treatment regimen that must be implemented step by step.

Patient Assessment

Doctors start by assessing the medical history and current condition of the patient. They perform:

• Blood tests
• Bone marrow biopsy
• Imaging tests (if necessary)
• Organ function tests (heart, lungs, kidneys)

It assists in determining whether the patient is a good candidate for the transplant and what kind of BMT would suit him best.

Matching of donors for Allogeneic BMT

When a patient requires donor cells, the transplant doctors begin the search for a match. They first perform tests on the siblings. In case there isn't a match in the family, the doctors search in international donor registries.

Selecting the Type of Transplant

Doctors select between autologous, allogeneic, and umbilical cord blood transplants on the basis of diagnosis and donor availability.

Stem Cell Collection

• In autologous transplants, stem cells are collected from the patient and stored.
• In allogeneic transplants, they collect stem cells from the donor a few days before the procedure.

Conditioning Therapy

Physicians establish an individual conditioning regimen that, in some cases, includes high-dose chemotherapy or irradiation. This is done to:

• kill diseased cells.
• suppress the immune system to avoid rejection.
• make space in the bone marrow for new cells.

Infection Prevention

Patients are given medications to avert infection. Physicians also advise staying in a sterile setting, particularly following the transplant, to shield the immune-compromised body.

Hospital Admission & Timeline Planning

The medical staff arranges the whole process of the transplant, beginning from the admission to the post-transplant follow-up. Patients and caregivers are briefed on:

• Expected length of stay
• Day of transplant (commonly called “Day 0”)
• Daily checkups and blood tests
• Isolation and hygiene protocols

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Procedure

Here's a brief overview of the process:

• Conditioning Treatment: The patient undergoes chemotherapy or radiation to kill the abnormal cells.
• Stem Cell Infusion: Healthy stem cells are administered through the bloodstream through IV.
• Engraftment: The stem cells move to the bone marrow and begin producing new blood cells. It generally happens in 2 to 4 weeks.
• Post-Transplant Monitoring: Infections, graft rejection, or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are monitored

Risks and Complications of Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)

Although BMT may save a person's life, it does have risks. The following are the risks and possible complications of bone marrow transplant:

• Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
• Infections due to low immunity
• Organ damage
• Bleeding
• Fertility issues
• Relapse of the original disease

What to Expect After the Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure?

You should anticipate the following after your bone marrow transplant:

• The hospital stay can range from 3 to 6 weeks.
• Initial weakness and fatigue are typical.
• You may need frequent monitoring and regular blood tests.
• Protective isolation to prevent infection is required.

Post-BMT Recovery and Long-Term Care

You will need to receive extensive long-term care following the BMT treatment. This might include:

• Full recovery will take 6 months to a year.
• A healthy diet, along with physical therapy and follow-up visits, aids in speedy healing.
• Some will need to have lifelong monitoring.
• Emotional and psychological support play a very important role.

Bone Marrow Transplant Success Rate in India

India boasts a high BMT success rate:

• Autologous Transplants: 70-90%
• Allogeneic Transplants: 60-80%

The rates of success vary according to the patient's disease type, donor match, and overall condition.

Cost of Bone Marrow Treatment Procedure in India

BMT in India costs much less as compared to Western nations and hence becomes a sought-after treatment for overseas patients.

Costs will vary by hospital, patient condition, and duration of stay.

Why Choose India for Bone Marrow Transplantation Procedure?

India has emerged as a preferred worldwide destination for BMT because:

Affordable Treatment

India has the lowest-priced BMT procedures as compared to the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and a number of other nations.

World-Class Healthcare Infrastructure

Indian hospitals provide quality medical infrastructure. Indian hospitals skilled in BMT are all internationally accredited with NABH and JCI. Indian centers are in the process of getting accredited by FACT to facilitate high-quality transplants.

Trained Professionals in BMT

Indian BMT experts are trained abroad and are highly experienced in handling the process. In 2025, SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals carried out the first-ever Haploidentical BMT in the world on a boy of 5 years suffering from Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)-like phenotype (a rare and complex condition) due to an IKZF-1 mutation.

Shorter Waiting Times

There are no waiting lists in India for procedures, and patients have quicker access to compatible donors and the transplant procedures themselves when compared to most other nations.

Medical Tourism Support

There is readily accessible round-trip and care support for foreign patients, as well as established medical tourism infrastructure and support.

Multilingual Staff

Indian hospitals have multilingual staff to provide enhanced services to international patients.

Documents Required for Patients Traveling to India for the Bone Marrow Treatment Procedure

For international patients contemplating BMT in India, it is necessary to present certain documentation to have a smooth medical journey. These include:

• Valid Passport: Valid for a minimum of six months after the date you travel.
• Medical Visa (M Visa): Granted by the Indian Embassy/Consulate on medical grounds.
• Invitation Letter from Indian Hospital: A formal letter explaining the course of treatment and how long it will last.
• Recent medical records: X-rays, MRIs, blood tests, and a referral note by a doctor in the home country.
• Completed visa application form: With passport-size photographs according to specifications.
• Proof of means: Such as bank statements dated in the past few months or health insurance.
• Medical Attendant visa: Needed for a companion or caregiver traveling along with the patient.

It is advisable to refer to the Indian consulate or your medical facilitator for the latest information and help in documentation.

Top Bone Marrow Transplant doctors in India

Some of the top bone marrow specialists in India are:

1. Dr. Rahul Bhargava - Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
2. Dr. Ashish Dixit - Manipal Hospital (Old Airport Road), Bangalore
3. Dr. Ashok Kumar Vaid - Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon
4. Dr. TPR Bharadwaj - Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai
5. Dr. Dharma Choudhary - BLK Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

Best Hospitals for Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) in India

Some of the best hospitals for bone marrow transplants in India include:

1. BLK Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi
2. Apollo Hospitals - Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad
3. Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
4. HCG Hospital, Bangalore
5. Gleneagles Global Hospital, Mumbai

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does a bone marrow transplant take?

The process of the actual transplant itself only lasts a few hours, but the whole treatment process will consume several weeks to months.

Is a bone marrow transplant painful?

The surgery itself isn't painful because it's in the same category as a transfusion. Pre-conditioning treatments do cause discomfort.

Can I live a normal life after BMT?

Yes, most of the patients recover to a life as usual after treatment, although some will need long-term care.

Who can be a donor?

Donors include matched unrelated individuals, siblings, or umbilical cord blood banks.

Is it safe to travel to India for BMT?

Yes. India has high international patient services and safety standards as a top medical tourist destination.