Allogeneic Transplant
Pre-BMT Phase
Conditioning Treatment

What is conditioning treatment?

Conditioning treatment is used to eliminate the underlying disease, create space for the new marrow and prevent rejection of the new bone marrow.

Once the conditioning treatment has begun, patients usually need to be in protective isolation to help prevent infection. Protective isolation means that it is necessary for the patient to remain in the hospital room or ward most of the time. However, there are circumstances when patients must leave the hospital room or ward to have tests in other departments. Protective isolation continues throughout transplant and for about three weeks post transplant, until the patient's condition and white blood cell count have improved to a satisfactory level.

Types of Conditioning Treatment

There is a variety of conditioning regimens that involve chemotherapy alone, or a combination of chemotherapy and total body irradiation (TBI). Your BMT doctor will provide detailed information about the particular conditioning treatment that is recommended for you.

1. Chemotherapy. All patients will receive chemotherapy drugs prior to the blood and marrow transplant. The chemotherapy is given in high doses in order to eliminate the disease or cancer. In the case of an allogeneic (donor) BMT, chemotherapy suppresses the immune system to allow the transplanted bone marrow undergo a process called engraftment. Chemotherapy is administered by a nurse in the patient's hospital room through the Hickman® line. Your physician will discuss possible side effects of chemotherapy in detail with you. Click here to read more about chemotherapy agents. Click here to read more about the possible side effects and complications from chemotherapy agents.
2. Total Body Irradiation (TBI). Some patients will receive radiation therapy in addition to chemotherapy during their conditioning treatment. Like chemotherapy, total body irradiation (TBI) is used to eliminate the disease and in the case of donor or allogeneic transplant, to suppress the patient’s immune system in preparation for the transplanted stem cells. TBI is given in the Radiotherapy Department at the British Columbia Cancer Agency. Before receiving TBI, patients go to the Radiotherapy Department for a pre-treatment appointment. The purpose of this appointment is to take special measurements of height, weight, and body thickness so that the radiation treatments can be tailored to each individual patient. A number of special markings are placed on the skin at this time to serve as landmarks when the treatment begins. This planning appointment is an excellent time to meet the staff in the Radiotherapy Department and to ask any questions. We suggest that you write your questions down and bring it to your appointment. Click here to read more about total body irradiation and possible side effects and complications.

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