Recovery after a stem cell transplant

A stem cell transplant is also called intensive treatment. It allows you to have high doses of chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells. The chemotherapy also damages the normal bone marrow cells.

After the chemotherapy, you have new stem cells into your bloodstream through a drip. You might have a transplant using:

• your own stem cells - this is called an autologous transplant

• stem cells from someone else – this is called a donor transplant or an allogeneic transplant

The stem cells find their way back to your bone marrow. Your body then starts making blood cells again and your bone marrow slowly recovers.

If you have been in hospital for your transplant, you might feel anxious about going home. Your nurses and doctor will help you plan for going home. And when you get home, you can contact them with any worries or questions.

You’ll start to feel stronger and more active again as time passes. But it takes a long time to get back to normal. It might be as long as a year before you really feel you are on the road to recovery.

Read more about the side effects of a stem cell or bone marrow transplant

Recovering after a donor (allogeneic) transplant

A donor transplant is a transplant using another person’s stem cells. It is also called an allogeneic transplant.

Recovery after a donor transplant takes much longer. And the risk of side effects or complications is higher. The 2 most common problems after this type of transplant are:

• the risk of infection is higher and lasts longer than in transplants using your own stem cells

• a particular complication of donor transplants called graft versus host disease

Read more about having an allogeneic transplant

Feeling very tired (fatigue)

It takes a long time to get over intensive treatment such as a stem cell transplant. It may be several months before you really feel you have got your strength back. Feeling extremely tired is normal to begin with and affects some people more than others.

Take things slowly when you get home. You will need to get plenty of rest. You can talk to your doctor or nurse about it. They might suggest ways you can improve your energy levels.

Read more about managing tiredness (fatigue)

Reducing your risk of infection

After a transplant, it also takes time for your blood cell levels to recover and for your immune system to work properly again. During this recovery period you are at higher risk of infections.

Your doctor and nurse will talk to you about what you can do to lower your risk of getting an infection. 

Medicines to prevent infection

You will need to take medicines to prevent infections for the time you are in hospital, and for the first few weeks at home. When you are fully recovered from your transplant you may need to have vaccinations against certain infections. 

Eating and drinking

During your time in hospital, you're usually told to avoid foods that are known to increase risk of stomach or bowel infections. Your doctor or nurse will let you know when you can start eating normally again. The advice can vary slightly between hospitals.  But some general advice during your recovery is to:

• wash your hands before cooking and eating

• eat only freshly cooked food

• cook food properly, particularly eggs which shouldn’t be soft

• avoid soft cheeses and creamy cakes and puddings

• eat foods before the use by date

• wash salads and fruit thoroughly

• avoid takeaways and fast food restaurants

Don't drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol. Ask your doctor if alcohol interferes with any medicines you are taking. 

You'll probably have lost weight during your treatment, but you should gradually put it back on and start to feel stronger. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are worried about your weight. They may be able to arrange for you to see a dietitian for specialist advice.

Going out

During your first few weeks at home, you can help reduce infection risk by:

• avoiding crowded places, such as cinemas, restaurants and public transport

• avoiding anyone who has come into contact with an infectious disease such as chickenpox or flu

Once your white cell count recovers, you can go out normally again. Ask about this at your appointments. You don’t want to avoid socialising unless you have to, and it’s easy for your doctor or nurse to forget to tell you when you can relax these restrictions.

Your feelings

You’ve been through a lot and it can take time to get back to a new sense of normal. It can be difficult to get back to work and family life. You may feel frustrated that you don’t feel as well as you hoped as quickly as you would like. There may be set backs along the way, and you may be in and out of hospital for a while.

After going through such intensive treatment some people may feel a new enthusiasm for life and appreciate the simple things. Other people may find it difficult to cope with and make sense of what they have been through. Some people may have anxiety or depression.

It’s important to talk things through with people around you or your doctors or nurses. They can help you get more help if you need it. Many people find it helpful to have counselling.

Read more about coping emotionally