Stages of Bone Marrow Transplant - Bone Marrow Transplant in India

Bone Marrow Transplant

Having a bone marrow transplant is a complicated five stage process.

The five stages are:

• a physical examination of your body to assess your general level of health
• obtaining the stem cells that will be used in the transplant (known as harvesting)
• preparing your body for the transplant (known as conditioning)
• transplanting the stem cells
• the recovery period, during which you will be monitored for any complications or side effects

The five stages are described in more detail below.

Physical examination

You will have a thorough physical examination before having a stem cell transplant. Your overall level of health before the transplant will play a big part in how well you recover after the procedure. As part of the examination, you may have some scans to check the condition of internal organs, such as your liver, heart and lungs.
Some medicines used in the conditioning and recovery process can occasionally cause problems with your organs, so it is important to know how well they are functioning beforehand. After the transplant, your risk of developing an infection will be increased, so it is vital to ensure you do not have any current underlying infections. If you have a cancer-related condition, you may need to have a biopsy. This involves removing a small sample of cancerous cells so they can be checked in a laboratory. The results of a biopsy can show whether your cancer is in remission (under control) and whether there is a high risk of it returning after your transplant.

Obtaining stem cells

When you've had a physical examination, the stem cells will need to be harvested. The usual method involves removing blood from the body, separating the stem cells from the other cells in the blood and then returning the blood to the body. Alternatively, the bone marrow itself can be collected by removing stem cells from the hip bone using a special needle and syringe. This may be recommended for certain conditions that require a transplant, or if the donor is a child.

Autologous transplantation

If they are suitable, it may be possible to use your own stem cells. This is known as an autologous transplantation. They can be harvested using either method described above. Your stem cells may need to be treated with radiation or chemotherapy to ensure that there are no cancerous cells left. If your bone marrow is being extracted, a needle will be used to remove about a litre of bone marrow. It will usually be removed from your hip bone while you are under general anaesthetic. The procedure is low risk but the area where the needle is inserted may be painful afterwards. The procedure may need to be carried out several times before enough bone marrow is harvested.

Allogeneic transplantation

If your own stem cells are not suitable, stem cells will be harvested from a healthy donor. This is known as allogeneic transplantation. There is a particular shortage of donors from African, African-Caribbean, Asian, Jewish, eastern European and Mediterranean communities.
The process of harvesting cells from a healthy donor is similar to the one used for an autologous transplant. For four days before the transplant, the donor will be given medication to stimulate the production of stem cells in their blood. On the fifth day, they will have a blood test to check they have enough circulating stem cells. They will then be connected to a cell-separator machine. A general anaesthetic is not needed, which means the harvesting can be done as an outpatient procedure. Blood is removed through a vein in one arm and passed through a filtering machine to separate the stem cells from other blood cells. It is then returned to the body through a vein in the other arm.

Preparing your body

As part of your conditioning, you will need to be given a range of medicines, so a tube will be inserted into a large vein near your heart. This is known as a central line and will avoid the need for you to have many painful injections.
The conditioning process involves using high doses of chemotherapy and possibly radiation. It is done for three reasons:

• to destroy the existing bone marrow and make room for the transplanted tissue
• to destroy any existing cancer cells
• to stop your immune system working in order to reduce the chance of the transplant being rejected 

The conditioning process usually takes four to seven days. You will probably need to stay in hospital throughout the procedure. Side effects from chemotherapy are common and include:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• mouth ulcers 
• tiredness

The transplant

It is usually possible to carry out the transplant one to two days after conditioning has finished. The donated stem cells will be passed into your body through the central line. The process can take from half an hour to several hours to complete, depending on the type of blood cells being used. The transplant is not painful and you will be awake throughout the procedure.

Recovery

You may feel weak after the transplant, and you may experience vomiting, diarrhoea and have a loss of appetite. To prevent malnutrition (a lack of essential nutrients), you will need to have nutritional support, with high-protein fluids taken by mouth or through a tube running through your nose to your stomach. The first stage of the recovery process involves waiting for the stem cells to reach your bone marrow and start producing new blood cells. This is known as engraftment and it usually occurs 15-30 days after the transplant takes place.

During this period, you will need to have regular blood transfusions because you will have a low number of red blood cells.You will also be at increased risk of developing an infection because you will have a low number of white blood cells. This means that you will need to stay in hospital in a germ-free environment.

Best Cancer Hospitals for Advanced Esophageal Cancer Treatment in India

Esophageal Cancer Treatment

Cancer that forms in tissues lining the esophagus (the muscular tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach). Two types of esophageal cancer are squamous cell carcinoma (cancer that begins in flat cells lining the esophagus) and adenocarcinoma (cancer that begins in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids). Esophageal cancer has been categorized into two types that include :

Adenocarcinoma : This type of esophageal cancer starts in the glandular tissue in the lower part of the esophagus. The stomach and the esophagus appear together in this lower part of esophagus.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma : Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the squamous cells lining the esophagus. This type of esophageal cancer typically occurs in the middle and upper part of the esophagus.

Early esophageal cancer usually does not cause symptoms. However, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include painful or difficulty in swallowing, weight loss and coughing up blood. Risk factors for developing esophageal cancer include:

·         Smoking

·         Heavy Drinking

·         Damage from acid reflux

·         Frequent choking while eating

·         Chest burning, pain or pressure

Stages of Esophageal Cancer

·         Stage 0: In this stage, the abnormal or unusual cells can only be seen in the layer of cells lining the esophagus.

·         Stage 1: The first stage is marked by the presence of cancer cells in the layer of cells lining the esophagus.

·         Stage 2: In the second stage, the cancer has reached to the outer wall of the esophagus or to the muscle layer of the esophagus. Also these cancer cells may have invaded 1-2 surrounding lymph nodes.

·         Stage 3: The third stage is marked by the spread of the cancer into the connective tissue wall or deep into the inner muscle layer. Also this cancer has spread to more lymph nodes close to esophagus and they may also spread beyond esophagus in the surrounding organ.

·         Stage 4: This is considered as the advanced stage of esophageal cancer. Now the cancer has spread to lymph nodes far away from the esophagus or to different organs.

DIAGNOSIS OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Barium Swallow or Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) X-rays : -Esophageal cancers grow from the wall of the esophagus into the opening of the esophagus, creating a tumor or bump inside the esophagus. Barium in liquid form is used to coat the esophagus wall before the x-ray is taken, allowing the x-ray to show the esophagus clearly. 

Upper Endoscopy for Esophageal Cancer : - Upper endoscopy is a procedure involving use of an endoscope, which is a flexible, very narrow tube with a video camera and light on the end. The patient is sedated to allow for this tube to pass through into the esophagus and stomach. The camera is connected to a television and doctor to sees abnormalities in the wall of the esophagus clearly. Endoscopy is important test for diagnosing esophageal cancer. 

Endoscopic Ultrasound for Esophageal Cancer : - An endoscope with a small ultrasound probe attached to its end is used. The probe sends very sensitive sound waves that penetrate deep into tissues. The sound waves bounce off the normal tissues and the cancer are picked up by the probe and determine how deeply the tumor has invaded into the esophagus.

Thoracoscopy and Laparoscopy for Esophageal Cancer : -These procedures allow the doctor to see lymph nodes and other organs near the esophagus inside the chest (by thoracoscopy) or the abdomen (by laparoscopy) through a hollow lighted tube. The surgeon can operate instruments through the tube and remove lymph node samples and biopsy organs to see whether they contain cancer cells. It is often important to decide whether a person is likely to benefit from surgery. 

Biopsy for Esophageal Cancer : - During an endoscopy or other procedure, the doctor will remove a small piece of tissue. This tissue is then examined by a pathologist who examines the tissue to determine whether cancer cells are present and if so, their type. It usually takes a couple of days to get the results of a biopsy.

Treatmentof Esophageal Cancer in India

·     Surgery : The surgical procedure for removing the entire or a part of the esophagus depends on the location and size of the tumor. There are a number of surgical procedures for reaching to the esophagus. The surgical procedure can remove nearby soft tissues, a section of the esophagus and the lymph nodes. The entire or a part of the stomach can also be removed. The cancer is removed by making several incisions in the abdomen and chest. In majority of cases, the stomach is pulled up and is then joined with the remaining portion of the esophagus. Also, a part of the intestine is used for connecting the stomach with the esophagus remaining part. A part of large intestine or small intestine may also be used. A part of the intestine is used when the stomach is removed for joining it with the left over part of the esophagus to the small intestine.

·         Radio Therapy : High-energy radiation beams are targeted on the cancerous tissue in order to destroy it. Radiotherapy is usually used in addition with either chemotherapy or surgery. Radiotherapy can be categorized into two different types for treating esophageal cancer that include :

·         Chemotherapy : People with esophageal cancer can also be treated with the help of chemotherapy. This therapy makes use of certain drugs that helps in destroying the cancer cells. The injection of these drugs is done into a vein (intravenous) that then travels throughout the different parts of the body.

·         Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) : In this outpatient procedure, controlled bursts of radiofrequency energy burn away thin layers of abnormal tissue on the surface of the esophagus, leaving healthy tissue intact. Radiofrequency ablation takes about 45 minutes, and patients can usually return to their normal activities the next day, though some patient may experience chest pain and difficulty swallowing for about a week.

·    

Radiation Therapy | Prostate Cancer Treatment in India

Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the prostate. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder).
The prostate gland produces fluid that is one of the components of semen. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin malignancy in men and is responsible for more deaths than any other cancer, except for lung cancer. Prevalence of prostate cancer is very high in the world - about 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only 1 man in 34 will die of it.
Treatment options and prognosis depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s age and general health. With greater public awareness, early detection is on the rise and mortality rates are declining. Additionally, new advances in medical technology are enabling cancer patients to return to active and productive lives after their treatment.

Detection of Prostate Cancer
There are two primary methods used to initially detect abnormalities in the prostate that may be cancerous. The first is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. Prostate cancer may also be found by a digital rectal examination (DRE). If you have yearly examinations and either one of these test results becomes abnormal, any cancer that you may have has probably been found at an early, more treatable stage

Prostate Cancer Treatments

Prostate cancer is a complex disease, and doctors may differ in their opinions regarding the best treatment options. The treatment of prostate cancer is complicated. Different men may choose to have different treatments compared to others with a similar type of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer treatment hospitals in India provide the best treatment after discussing what is most suitable for your case.

 

Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment of prostate cancer if the cancer is not spread to the other parts of the body. Prostate cancer surgery hospitals in India have the most effective and fairly economical.

Radiotherapy

In radiation therapy, radio high energy to kill cancerous cells. Radiotherapy can be used as an initial treatment for low-grade cancer that has not grown out of the prostate gland. Radiotherapy can also be used to slow the progression of metastatic prostate cancer or to reduce the size of tumor and relieve symptoms. Radiotherapy is also performed if the cancer has come back. It is done in short sessions for five days a week, for four to eight weeks.

External Radiation Therapy

In external radiation, beams of radiation are focused on the prostate gland from a machine outside the body. External radiation is used to cure early stage cancers, or to help relieve symptoms such as bone pain if the cancer has spread to a specific area of bone. In prostate cancer treatment hospitals in India, doctors carefully figure out the exact dose of radiation needed and aim the beams as accurately as they can to hit the carefully outlined target.

Internal Radiation Therapy

In Internal Radiation Therapy, small radioactive pellets, or "seeds," each about the size of a grain of rice are used to treat cancerous cells. These pellets are placed directly into prostate. Brachytherapy is used in men with early stage prostate cancer that is slow growing. This method has the advantage of delivering a high dose of radiation to the prostate, while minimizing damage to other tissues.

We are most trusted medical treatment resource in India offering

Online support service to cancer patients with comprehensive care including advanced diagnosis, best treatment option at leading cancer centers in India. 

 

Consult Best Doctors in India and Get Medical Advise & Estimate by
 

Emailing the medical reports of patient to us at
helpl@cancertreatmenthospitalindia.com or call us at +91-9540566722

Blood Cancer Symptoms & Treatment - Blood Cancer Treatment In India

Blood Cancer Treatment

Cancerous formation can attack any organic system of the human physiology. As part of blood cancer, the rapidly multiplying cancerous cells are found attacking the different aspects of the circulatory system. Besides blood and the lymphatic system; the bone marrow can also be the focus of attack.

Types of Leukaemia :

The Leukaemia can be grouped based on how quickly the disease develops and gets worse and thus divided into two types : Acute Leukaemia : the rapid increase of immature blood cells is known as acute leukaemia. This accumulation of excessive immature blood cells hinders the reproduction of healthy blood cells by the bone marrow resulting into the stage of blood cancer. This form of leukaemia occurs in children and young adults mainly. This rapid reproduction therefore requires immediate treatment else it spills over into bloodstream and spreads to the other healthy organs of the body. This is most severe form of blood cancer. Chronic Leukaemia : The excessive formulation of comparatively mature, but still abnormal blood cells in human body is characterised as chronic leukaemia. These cells reproduces at much higher speed than normal cells which results into formulation of many immature blood cells in the blood. It comparative affects the old age people than the young. The chronic leukaemia at times is monitored for before prescribing the treatment. The chronic type of leukaemia can easily be diagnosed during routine medical check up.

Symptoms of Blood Cancer :

In the case of blood cancer the bone marrow is damaged, which results into lack of blood platelets. These blood platelets are important for the process of blood clotting therefore in the patients suffering from blood cancer becoming bruised; bleeding excessively or developing pinprick bleeds are common features. Other main symptoms of the disease include : These symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats. Headaches Vomiting Loss of muscle control Swollen or bleeding gums Enlarged liver Infections frequently Pain in the bones Swollen tonsils Paleness Extreme weight loss The different stages of blood cancer Depends on the rate of metastasis. There are different yards sticks to distinguish blood cancer into different stages according to the symptoms of prognosis and rate of metastasis. Four different phases of chronic leukemia. The first phase is marked by an enlarged presence of lymph nodes. This happens owing to the spurt in the count of lymphocytes. The risk level at this stage is intermediate because at this stage of prognosis, the cancer is yet to spread and affect other physical organs. The second stage is marked by the enlarged presence of spleen as well as liver; in addition to that of the lymph nodes. If not both the organs, at least one of them apart from lymph nodes is affected at the second stage. There is a massive swing in the growth of lymphocytes. The risk level is still moderate. The next stage or the third stage is marked by the development of anemia. The aforementioned organs are still likely to remain swollen. In general two or more organs are likely to be affected at the third stage of cancerous development.

Treatment of Blood Cancer :

The choice of treatment depends mainly on the following factors: The type of leukemia (acute or chronic) Patient's age Whether leukemia cells were found in your cerebrospinal fluid Blood cancer is rather a cluster of cancers developed in the blood cells and therefore the patients with leukaemia requires special treatment. The special cancer centres can only meet those special needs. The treatment of blood cancer is a complete program which the patients have to follow in order to achieve best results. These include : Chemotherapy : This is the first method to destroy those leukaemic cells by the usage of anti cancer drugs. Interferon therapy : This is effective to slow down the rate of reproduction of the leukaemic cells and helps the immune system to build sufficient anti- leukaemia activity. Radiation therapy : This therapy is effective to kill cancer cells with the process of exposure to high-energy radiations. Stem Cell Transplantation : This procedure is required in order to enable treatment with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery :  The surgery is performed for the removal of an enlarged spleen or to install a venous access device to give medications and withdraw blood samples.