This document will give you an overview of bone marrow transplants and other types of stem cell transplants that are used to treat cancer. If you would like more details about donating stem cells or having a stem cell transplant, please contact the organizations listed in the "Additional resources" section.

Stem cells are cells in the bone marrow that make all of the body's blood cells. Stem cell transplants are used to restore the stem cells when the bone marrow has been destroyed by disease, chemotherapy, or radiation. Depending on the source of the stem cells, this procedure may be called a bone marrow transplant, a peripheral blood stem cell transplant, or a cord blood transplant.

The first successful bone marrow transplant was done in 1968. It was not until nearly 20 years later that stem cells taken from circulating (peripheral) blood were transplanted with success. More recently, doctors have begun using cord blood from the placenta and umbilical cords of newborn babies as another source of stem cells.

Today tens of thousands of patients have had stem cell transplants. This has lead to better care for transplant patients and helped doctors know more about which patients are likely to have better results after transplant.