Stem cell transplants aren’t all the same. Some use a person’s own stem cells, while others rely on stem cells donated by someone else.
For people with blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma, doctors choose the type of stem cell transplant based on the diagnosis and treatment plan. In some cases, a donor isn’t needed. In others, treatment can’t go ahead without a matching donor.
That’s where stem cell donors matter.
Below is a clear breakdown of the main types of stem cell transplants and how each one works.
What is a stem cell transplant?
A stem cell transplant replaces damaged blood forming cells with healthy ones.
After chemotherapy or radiation, the body often struggles to produce enough healthy blood cells. When this happens, the immune system weakens and recovery slows.
Stem cells step in to rebuild blood production and strengthen the immune system. Because of this, stem cell transplants play a critical role in treating many blood cancers. For some people, they support recovery after intense treatment. For others, they become the only remaining option.
Types of stem cell transplants
Doctors use four main types of stem cell transplants. Although each type aims to rebuild the blood and immune system, they don’t all work the same way.
Some transplants use the patient’s own stem cells. Others depend on stem cells donated by someone else. The choice depends on the disease and how the patient’s body responds to treatment.
Here’s how each one works.
Allogeneic stem cell transplant
An allogeneic stem cell transplant uses stem cells donated by another person.
That donor might be a sibling, a family member, or an unrelated volunteer who has joined a stem cell donor registry. When a patient’s own stem cells no longer work properly, donor stem cells give them the chance to rebuild a healthy blood and immune system.
Before the transplant, doctors use chemotherapy or radiation to suppress the immune system and make space for the new stem cells. After infusion, the donated stem cells begin forming new blood cells and restoring immune function.
Because the stem cells come from a donor, graft versus host disease, often called GvHD, can occur. Doctors monitor patients closely and treat symptoms early. Allogeneic transplants commonly treat leukaemia and other serious blood disorders.
Autologous stem cell transplant
An autologous stem cell transplant uses the patient’s own stem cells.
Doctors collect and store the stem cells before treatment begins. The patient then receives high dose chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells. After treatment, doctors return the stored stem cells to support recovery.
Since the stem cells come from the patient, there’s no risk of graft versus host disease. Recovery focuses on rebuilding strength rather than adapting to new cells.
Doctors often use autologous transplants for conditions like lymphoma and multiple myeloma, where aggressive treatment is needed but a donor isn’t required.
[H3] Haploidentical stem cell transplant
A haploidentical stem cell transplant uses a half matched donor.
In most cases, a close family member such as a parent, child, or sibling becomes the donor. This option allows doctors to move forward when a fully matched donor isn’t available in time.
Doctors prepare the patient with treatment to suppress the immune system. Once infused, the donor stem cells begin building a new blood and immune system.
Because the match isn’t complete, doctors closely monitor graft versus host disease and manage it with targeted treatments. Advances in care now make haploidentical transplants a safe and effective option for many patients.
Cord blood stem cell transplant
A cord blood stem cell transplant uses stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood after birth, with parental consent.
These stem cells adapt more easily, so they don’t need to match as closely as adult stem cells. However, cord blood contains fewer stem cells, which means doctors usually use this option for children or smaller adults.
Even so, cord blood remains an important alternative when adult donors aren’t available.
Risks and recovery after a stem cell transplant
Stem cell transplants save lives, but they place heavy demands on the body.
After treatment, the immune system needs time to rebuild. During this period, patients face a higher risk of infections. Many also experience fatigue that can last for months.
For donor transplants, graft versus host disease can occur. Doctors monitor patients closely and step in early if symptoms appear. While recovery timelines vary, ongoing medical care and support help patients regain strength.
Who needs a stem cell transplant?
Doctors only recommend stem cell transplants when the benefits clearly exceed the risks.
When making that decision, the care team looks at the type of blood cancer or disorder, how it has responded to treatment so far, and the person’s age and overall health. For donor transplants, donor availability also plays a role.
In some cases, a stem cell transplant gives patients their best chance of recovery. In others, it becomes the only option left.
How you can help
Right now, people across Australia are waiting for a matching stem cell donor.
Some will never need one. Others can’t move forward with treatment without one. For those people, finding a donor isn’t a nice to have. It’s everything.
If you’re aged 18 to 35 and generally healthy, you could be the match someone’s been waiting for. Signing up takes a few minutes online, then a few simple cheek swabs at home.
That’s it.
You can join through Stem Cell Donors Australia.
You might never be called. But if you do, you could help save the life of someone you’ll probably never meet.
Be a legend, save a life.
References
Stem Cell Donors Australia. Why stem cell transplants matter
TLR FAQs – Stem Cell Donation FAQs