CARHY announces comprehensive hematopoietic stem cell transplant service

Adding an impetus to the already existing image of Bangalore being a healthcare destination of India, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwanthpur (CARHY), announced comprehensive bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant) service on Thursday. This facility will give hope to many cancer patients in and around Bangalore as there are very few hospitals in South India providing allogeneic transplant, which involves using stem cells from a donor with a similar genetic makeup.

The bone marrow transplant (BMT) service will have a team of medical experts including clinical hematologist, oncologist, and other qualified doctors from allied specialties like pediatrics, infectious disease specialist and trained nurses for stem cell transplant, state-of-the-art HEPA filtered room, ICU, 24 hrs blood bank services and radiology services for providing comprehensive care during stem cell transplant.

Addressing the media, Dr. Nandakumar Jairam, Chairman and Group Medical Director, Columbia Asia Hospitals,  said, "We are happy to announce allogenic bone marrow transplant service at our hospital in Yeshwanthpur, over and above the existing autologous transplant service. This will enhance comprehensive bone marrow transplant treatment delivery; a dire need for the people of Karnataka and neighbouring states. This will also help many international patients who look for such a treatment in India."

"This facility is dedicated to providing end-to-end services including expert counsel from a clinical hematologist and an entire team of doctors and nurses providing the latest in medical advances to those suffering from blood cancer and some non-cancerous conditions affecting the bone marrow," said Dr. Satish, Consultant in Clinical Hematology, Columbia Asia Hospitals. 

"Bone marrow transplant, also called hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), is a treatment option for certain cancers. With this launch, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital Yeshwanthpur becomes one among the very few centers in India to offer allogeneic bone marrow transplants. Till now, we were doing only autologous transplants which involved the usage of the patient's own stem cells. Now, we will be able to manage conditions like high risk leukemia's, myelomas and lymphomas," said Dr Satish.  

"Some of the most effective treatments for cancer such as chemotherapy and radiation are toxic to the bone marrow. The marrow produces different cells that make up the blood such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The stem cells from the bone marrow are extracted before the administration of high dose chemotherapy and then reintroduced or transplanted to the patient so that blood cell production process is re-established in the bone marrow," added Dr Neelesh Reddy, Consultant Medical Oncology, Columbia Asia Hospitals. 

In fact earlier stem cells were collected only from the bone marrow in the hip bones under general anesthesia. However with advanced technology and medical supervision stem cells can now be collected from peripheral blood after giving injections.  Stem cells are then harvested by simple procedure called apheresis, (in the same way as dialysis is done) and the rest of the blood is returned to the person.