People with cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma often benefit from stem cell transplants. Stem cells that develop into blood cells are removed and transfused into the person with cancer to replace cells destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation. Stem cells for transplant can be autologous, removed from the patient before treatment, or obtained from a donor, called an allogeneic transplant. Stems cells can be obtained from bone marrow or from peripheral blood. While stem cell harvest can save a person's life, the harvest procedure can cause complications.
Pain
In peripheral blood stem cell harvest, medications called filgrastims are given to build up the supply of stem cells in the blood. Filgrastims can cause bone pain as the bone marrow produces extra cells. Pain can range from mild to severe, and normally lasts until two to three days after the last dose of the medication, according to the National Cancer Institute. Muscle pain might also occur. If stem cells are removed directly from bone marrow, the removal site can be quite sore for several days after the procedure. Although rare, nerve damage, which might be permanent, can occur at the removal site, the National Marrow Donor Program reports. The procedure itself is done under local or general anesthesia and is painless. During peripheral harvest, intravenous lines are placed in each arm, which can also cause discomfort.
Fatigue
Fatigue can occur before stem cell harvest from the medications taken to build up the stem cell supply. Fatigue also occurs commonly after bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell harvest. Full recovery after bone marrow harvest can take up to three to four weeks, the National Cancer Institute reports.
Apheresis Symptoms
Peripheral blood stem cell harvesting requires a procedure called apheresis. During apheresis, blood is removed through an intravenous line in one arm, sent through a machine that removes stem cells from the blood and then returned to the patient via an intravenous line in the other arm. The anti-coagulant infused to keep blood from clotting during the procedure can cause symptoms such as lightheadedness, chills, shakiness, nausea, cramping in the hands and a tingling around the mouth, according to the National Marrow Donor Program.
Bleeding
Peripheral blood stem cell harvesting can cause a drop in platelets, which are cells that help blood clot. Low platelet levels can cause excessive bleeding from small injuries, according to Drugs.com, a drug information website that provides peer-reviewed information to consumers. Platelets might be given at the time of apheresis, especially for autologous stem cell harvesting, the website Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Cyberfamily reports.
