StemCell Therapy

By Judith Sachs WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Arnold Wax, MD

WebMD Archive

Having a stem-cell transplant is a major challenge for your body. As you recover in the first weeks and months, you are likely to feel fatigued and weak. Certain side effects, like flu-like symptoms, nausea, and a changed sense of taste, are common. Try to be patient: You're building a brand-new immune system, and this takes time. Your doctors will monitor you closely and give you medications to prevent problems.

Along with these typical side effects, you may experience complications. Some come from the high-dose chemotherapy and radiation that may be part of the transplant process. (These may be less likely if you have had a "mini-transplant" with low-dose chemotherapy and radiation.) Other complications are caused by your body's attempts to reject donor stem cells.

Overview

Laetrile is a compound that contains a chemical called amygdalin. Amygdalin is found in the pits of many fruits, raw nuts, and plants (see Question 1). It is believed that the active anticancer ingredient in laetrile is cyanide (see Question 1). Laetrile is given by mouth as a pill or by intravenous injection (see Question 4). Laetrile has shown little anticancer effect in laboratory studies, animal studies, or human studies (see Question 5 and Question 6). The side effects of laetrile...

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The most common complications are:

Less often, some patients experience cataracts, infertility (if total-body radiation is given), and new, secondary cancers, sometimes as long as a decade after the original cancer.

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Complications of Stem Cell Transplants - WebMD

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