The Transplant Process - A Patient Guide

If you or someone you know is going to have an unrelated donor bone marrow or cord blood transplant, the patient guide The Transplant Process can help you learn what to expect before, during and after transplant.

Get the guide

To read The Transplant Process, you can order a free printed copy. Or you can download the guide as printer-friendly PDF files.

Download the complete guide:

• The Transplant Process (1,460 KB PDF)

Download by chapter:

• Introduction, Table of Contents, and The Search (300 KB PDF)
• Preparing for Transplant (240 KB PDF)
• Life after Transplant (560 KB PDF) 
• Patient Resources and Checklists (180 KB PDF)

Find answers online

The information in the guide is also available on this Web site.

Planning for transplant

• How will my doctor search for a suitable donor or cord blood unit for me?
• How do I prepare my family and myself for transplant? 
• Why do I need a caregiver and how do I choose one? 
• Patient Checklist: Getting Ready for Your Transplant (PDF)
• Parent Checklist: Getting Ready for Your Child's Transplant (PDF)

What to expect during transplant

• What are the steps of the transplant process?
• What is the preparative regimen and possible side effects?
• What will my first month after transplant be like?

Life after transplant

• All about life after transplant: staying healthy, managing possible long-term effects, dealing with finances, and more

Get help

We are here to help you. National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) staff in the Office of Patient Advocacy can answer your questions about transplant and connect you to resources. Our services are free. You can contact the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy by phone or e-mail.

On this Web site, you can also find:

• More patient support and resources from the NMDP 
• Glossary of transplant-related terms 
• Directory of other organizations that can help