Non cancerous bone marrow disorders are conditions that make it hard for your body to produce enough healthy blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. They can lead to fatigue, an increased risk of infection and bleeding or bruising. These conditions can affect people of any age, but they are more common in children and young adults. Benign blood diseases, such as anemia or thrombocytopenia, may be the cause of these conditions.
Leukemia is a type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow and spreads to other parts of the body. In leukemia, your bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells that don’t die when they should, and these abnormal cells crowd out healthy blood cells. There are several types of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
Plasma cells are white blood cells that leave the bone marrow to go throughout your body and remove harmful substances. When a person has multiple myeloma, the DNA of some of these plasma cells becomes damaged and they keep producing more plasma cells that don’t work normally. These unneeded plasma cells collect in the bones and form tumors. The proteins these cells produce, called antibodies, move through the bloodstream and help fight infections. The antibodies aren’t normal and can also damage other tissues in the body.
A bone tumor is a lump or mass of tissue that develops in the center of your bone, known as the bone marrow. Most bone tumors are benign, but some are cancerous and can replace healthy tissue or weaken the bone, causing it to break (fracture). The most common bone cancer is multiple myeloma, which typically occurs in older adults. Other types of bone cancer include osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and sarcoma.
Bone marrow transplant (BMT) involves taking healthy stem cells from your body and replacing the diseased ones in your bone marrow. A BMT can be used to treat many different cancers and blood disorders, including acute leukemia and hematologic malignancies. At WVU Medicine, you receive individualized care from an experienced team that includes specialists in hematology, pharmacy, pathology and transfusion therapy.
Our experts have extensive experience in treating bone marrow transplant patients. They work closely with you to create a treatment plan that best meets your needs. They also provide compassionate support throughout your treatment.
