Before a transplant, high-dose treatment is given to try to destroy the remaining cancer cells. This is known as conditioning treatment. Patients who receive this treatment normally remain in the hospital.

You will be given a combination of chemotherapy drugs through your PICC or central line. Some people also receive radiotherapy to the whole body (total body irradiation). One or two days after your high-dose treatment is done, a nurse will give you the collected stem cells through your central line or PICC. The stem cells travel through the blood to the bone marrow, where they start producing blood cells.

You will remain in the hospital until your blood count increases. This can take 2-3 weeks. Until then, you will be at high risk of infection and side effects. But you will be closely monitored with a daily care routine.

Once your blood levels come up, your care team will plan your return home.