There are several side effects that patients may experience as they undergo stem cell transplantation. The most common side effects after transplant are fatigue, lack of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Many patients also continue to deal with hair loss, skin rash, swelling, weight loss or gain, fatigue, change in taste/appetite, or decrease in sexual desire.
Side effects can happen with any type of treatment, but everyone’s experience is different. Some people may have many side effects. Others have fewer.
Side effects can happen any time during, immediately after or days to months after a stem cell transplant. Short-term (acute) side effects generally develop during the first 100 days after a stem cell transplant. Long-term (chronic) side effects generally develop 100 or more days after the transplant. Most side effects go away on their own or can be treated, but some side effects can last a long time or become permanent.
Side effects. Stem cell treatment for knees is noninvasive and rarely painful. Side effects are minimal. The most frequent experiences after the procedure include mildpain at the injection site, swelling, and some joint stiffness
Lodi, D., Iannitti, T., & Palmieri, B. (2011). Stem cells in clinical practice: applications and warnings. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, 30(1), 9.
Article Stem cells in clinical practice: Applications and warnings
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To prepare for a stem cell transplant, you will go through conditioning treatment, which may include chemotherapy and/or radiation. Side effects of conditioning may include mouth sores, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, dry mouth, hair loss, rashes and breathing problems. Many common side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue and temporary hair loss, are from the chemotherapy or radiation therapy given before the transplant. Other side effects are related to the stem cell transplant.
Stem cell therapy has revolutionized knowledge in the development of biologics and a key to new discoveries in medicine, which I think is important for the treatment of new diseases of our time.