A bone marrow transplant — more precisely a haematopoietic stem cell transplant — replaces diseased or treated bone marrow with healthy blood-forming stem cells. It is an important, sometimes curative, treatment for certain blood cancers and disorders.

At Indian OncoCare, transplant care is overseen by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), a hemato-oncologist and Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad.

What a bone marrow transplant is

There are two main types:

Autologous transplant — uses your own stem cells, collected and stored before high-dose treatment and then returned. It is commonly used in multiple myeloma and some lymphomas.
Allogeneic transplant — uses stem cells from a matched donor (a sibling, an unrelated donor, or a half-matched family member). It is used mainly in leukemia and some other conditions, and can offer a cure by giving you a new, healthy immune and blood system.

What the process involves

A transplant is a planned, step-by-step process: collecting stem cells (from you or a donor), a conditioning phase of chemotherapy (sometimes with radiation) to prepare the body, the transplant itself (given like a blood transfusion), and then a recovery period while the new marrow engrafts and blood counts recover. Careful monitoring for infection and, in allogeneic transplants, for graft-versus-host disease is central to safe care.

Who might need a transplant

A transplant may be recommended for selected patients with leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, among other conditions. Whether it is right for you depends on your diagnosis, its risk features, your response to earlier treatment, your age and general fitness, and donor availability for an allogeneic transplant. These decisions are made carefully and explained fully.

Why choose Indian OncoCare

Transplant is a specialised area of hemato-oncology, and your care is overseen personally by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), delivered through the facilities at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. See our cancer services and the patient journey.

Support for patients and families

A cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, and practical support matters as much as medical treatment. Our patient support resources help you prepare for consultations and understand each step, while our financial guidance can help you understand treatment costs and the insurance or assistance options that may be available.

You can find more guidance and checklists in our patient resources section. Patients travelling from outside Hyderabad or from abroad usually begin with an online consultation before continuing in person — see our international patients page for how this is coordinated.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bone marrow transplant a major operation?

It is not surgery. The stem cells are given through a drip, like a transfusion. The intensive part is the preparation and the recovery period afterwards.

What is the difference between autologous and allogeneic?

Autologous uses your own stem cells; allogeneic uses a matched donor’s. The choice depends on your condition.

How long is recovery?

Early recovery in and around hospital takes some weeks, with fuller recovery of the immune system over months, during which close monitoring is important.

Who oversees the transplant?

Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), a hemato-oncologist, oversees your transplant care personally.