Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia: Procedure, Success Rate and Cost

Bone marrow transplant for leukemia is a life-saving treatment that replaces diseased bone marrow with a healthy one. When leukemia patient is at the high-risk stage, or has relapsed, Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is often the most effective treatment option.

BMT for leukemia is also prescribed when leukemia is resistant to standard therapies like high-dose chemotherapy or radiation.

The following guide will look into the treatment, the step-by-step procedure, success rates and cost comparison across countries. Read till the end to also find a complete patient preparation checklist.

What is a Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia?

BMT for leukemia is an advanced curative treatment where damaged marrow (due to chemotherapy/radiation) is replaced with a healthy one. This healthy marrow is usually taken from either the patient (autologous BMT) or a donor (allogeneic BMT). The latter should preferably be a sibling or a relative, but some cases also have donor BMT from a non-related person with good HLA match.

As the bone marrow is replaced completely, it allows doctors to give much higher dose of chemotherapy and radiation. BMT also allows the body to have a normal blood cell production which provides them with a fresh start and a long-term cure.

When is BMT Recommended for Leukemia?

Bone marrow transplant is indicated in patients with leukemia under the following circumstances:

• High-risk leukemia (resistant to standard therapy options, poor genetic features)

• Refractory or relapsed disease where the condition returns.

• Second complete remission in leukemia.

• Chronic leukemias that progress despite usual treatments.

Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure: Step-by-Step

The BMT treatment progresses as follows:

1. Pre-treatment evaluation which takes 2-4 weeks. This involves tests, medical assessments and deciding if the process will be autologous or allogeneic. If latter, this is the stage when a suitable donor is found.

2. Central line placement takes 7 days and involves chemotherapy and stem cell infusion through central venous catheter. This involves the conditioning.

3. Conditioning which involves high-dose therapy to clear out the diseased bone marrow and any cancer cells.

4. Stem cell infusion is a one-day procedure and is like a blood transfusion. The healthy stem cells are infused through a central line.

5. Recovery and engraftment require you to stay between 2-4 weeks at the hospital. This is for monitoring infections, side effects and keeping a check on blood counts.

Success Rate of Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia Patient

The bone marrow transplant for leukemia success rates depends on the type of leukemia, age of the patient, remission status and donor match, among other health factors. Here are a few success rates:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): The 5-year survival rate is around 32% for all ages and higher for those with HLA-matched donors in first remission.

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): For children with ALL, the success rate is between 60%-80% and for adults it is between 30%-50%. This depends on the remission and donor status.

• Chronic Leukemias (CML, CLL): For CML the survival rate is around 70% and CLL has a success rate of 80%-90% with BMT.

In short, the highest success rates are seen in younger age groups, with children under 15 showing success rates of within 90%.

Risks and Complications After BMT

Patients may worry about severe side effects such as GVHD (graft vs host disease) which is rare. The actual risks include:

• Infection

• Bleeding

• Organ effects

About one in five patients have serious complications but most are manageable with expert care. The condition requires lifetime follow-up even after a few months of BMT.

Cost of Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia

BMT is an advanced curative treatment for chronic conditions like leukemia. But only a few countries in the world like India, USA, UK, Europe and Thailand provide the best results.

Here are the factors that affect the cost of BMT for leukemia:

• Country of choice: The country you choose to get your BMT in affects the cost. It is higher in Western countries like the US.

• Donor type: The type of donor can impact the cost of BMT, with autologous BMT costing less than allogeneic or haploidentical BMT.

• Hospital: The costs vary depending on the specific facility and the advancement they offer.

But the choice of country depends on your preference (affordable yet high quality). For example, you can get autologous BMT for leukemia in India for $14,000-$16,000 with high success rate.

Country-wise Cost Comparison

Here is a cost comparison of the popular destinations:

 

Country	Cost (USD)
USA	$350,000-$850,000
India	$24,000 – $35,000 Allogeneic - $24,000-$26,000 Haploidentical - $32,000-$35,000 Autologous - $14,000-$16,000
UK	$50,000-$250,000
Europe (e.g., Germany)	$100,000 to $250,000
Thailand	$30,000 to $50,000+ (depending on the type)

If you are looking for a destination that offers best quality, expertise and affordability, I recommend choosing India. India offers BMT to treat leukemia with high success rates following international standards. India also has internationally accredited hospitals that offer the best prices.

Patient Preparation Checklist Before BMT

Here are a few of the important things that you must ensure are in order for a smooth BMT for leukemia:

• Undergo complete pre-BMT screening such as liver, lungs, heart and infectious diseases.

• Dental check-up before intense chemo.

• Central line insertion.

• Arranging caregivers and secure accommodation (must-have 3 months after discharge.)

• Dietary adjustments that are needed before and after the procedure.

• Check for logistical, nutritional and emotional support.

• Review payment plan and health insurance.

Bone marrow transplant for this blood cancer is a path to cure for many. The patient is selected and supported at every step for the best recovery. For the right candidate, especially younger patients with leukemia in remission, BMT is often the best therapy.

A global medical tourism company like Yapita Health can help you pick the best destination for BMT, providing complete support from consultations with the best oncologists to visa assistance and travel.

FAQ

Here are some of the most asked questions about this BMT for leukemia:

Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant Survival Rate?

The survival rate depends on the type of leukemia and the age of the patient. In young patients below 15 years, the survival rate is between 80%-90% it also exceeds 90% in some cases.

Why is Bone Marrow Transplant needed for Leukemia?

BMT is one of the most advanced treatment that has growing success rates. BMT is needed for leukemia as it destroys cancer cells effectively with the help of chemotherapy/radiation.

Then, it replaces the destroyed bone marrow with healthy blood stem cells through patient’s bloodstream after which it finds its way to the bone marrow where they start producing new cells like RBC, WBC and platelets.

What is the Bone Marrow Transplant Death Rate for Leukemia?

The BMT mortality rates vary significantly based on the type of leukemia and the transplant. For sibling-related BMT, the death rate has decreased by 50%, whereas that of unrelated donor has decreased by 36% as per a recent study.

What is the AML Bone Marrow Transplant Success Rate?

The 5-year survival rate is around 32% and between 60%-70% for allogeneic transplants. Those patients who are in early stage and have high-risk AML have better chance at good outcome.

Can You Live a Normal Life After BMT?

Yes, the patients start to feel normal as the blood counts return to normal. Their chance of infection risk decreased as the new stem cells start to grow and form blood cells.