How Much Time will I Spend in the Hospital?

Anywhere from four days to five weeks, depending on your status.  Here is a general sequence for the full transplant procedure:

1. Qualification testing: 1-2 months, out-patient.
2.  Pre-Transplant procedure: 4-6 weeks, out-patient
1. Including bone marrow* or stem cell harvesting
3. High dosage radiation and/or chemotherapy: 2-10 days, in-patient
4. Transplant: 2-4 hours, in-patient
5. Immediate follow-up treatment/observation: 2-3 weeks, in-patient**
6. Post-Transplant follow-up treatment/observation: 5 years, out-patient

* A bone marrow donor will be hospitalized for up to 24 hours during the harvesting process, although they may be released after a few hours of post-harvest observation.

** May be provided under strictly controlled out-patient status.

The crucial, in-patient stages are the high-dosage radiation/chemotherapy, the transplant itself, and the time period immediately following the transplant.  The primary risk during that time is a small chance (about 5% only) of experiencing some sort of organ failure (kidney, liver, lungs, etc.) as a result of the radiation/chemotherapy.  The second risk is the potential for an infection while a patient’s immune system is compromised.  Even a little infection can be deadly without white blood cells, as can be an injury that is unable to clot itself closed.

It generally takes 2-3 weeks after the ‘new’ bone-marrow or stem-cells are introduced for your blood numbers to rise sufficiently and reduce these risks.  Once your transplant team is convinced that your immune system is a) beginning to rebuild itself, and b) at a safe place in terms of blood counts, you will be released from the hospital.  During your time in the hospital you will most likely be highly quarantined in a private room and a special ward.

If you are treated as an out-patient during this time, there will be strict rules about quarantine and follow-up treatment to constantly watch for any health issues and measure your immune system recovery via blood cell counts.

The chance for organ failure continues on after you leave the hospital, but generally at the two month post-transplant milestone that risk is diminished considerably.  Some of the medications you’ll take in the six to twenty-four months following transplant are to address this risk, especially where lung problems, like pneumonia, are concerned.