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After treatment and remission

Transplant details

If you have had a transplant, its key details are needed for life: for follow-up, vaccines and any future treatment.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Donor and recipient
Figure 1.Donor and recipient.

01Short answer

Record: the date and centre of the transplant; the type (autologous or allogeneic); the donor (related, unrelated, haploidentical, cord blood) and HLA match; the conditioning type (myeloablative or reduced intensity, as your doctor wrote it); any change in blood group; GVHD episodes and treatment; serious infections; and the re-vaccination schedule. Copy these details from the transplant centre’s discharge summary.

02Simple explanation

Date and centre.

Type and donor.

Conditioning, as your doctor wrote it.

GVHD episodes.

Vaccine plan.

03Scientific explanation

Long-term follow-up: international recommendations advise regular checks (heart, lungs, hormones, eyes, skin) for years after transplant.

Vaccines: after an allogeneic transplant, protection from earlier vaccines can be lost, so a re-vaccination plan is made.

Chimerism: some centres track the share of donor cells.

04What happens in the body?

Donor and recipient

Record the donor type and match; the donor’s personal details are usually confidential.

Transplant day

The date, “Day 0”, is the start of the whole follow-up schedule.

A small candle flame.
Figure 2.Transplant day — Transplant details

Vaccines

The transplant team gives the re-vaccination schedule.

A grid of light without numbers.
Figure 3.Vaccine schedule — Transplant details

GVHD

Signs in the skin, mouth, eyes, gut or liver and the treatment given should be recorded.

05Your transplant record

Four steps.

Type — Autologous or allogeneic.1TypeAutologous or allogeneic.
Donor — Donor and match.2DonorDonor and match.
GVHD — Record episodes.3GVHDRecord episodes.
Vaccines — Re-vaccination plan.4VaccinesRe-vaccination plan.
CompleteKey facts in one place.
ProtectionVaccines are restored.
Follow-upLate effects are tracked.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
Donor and recipientRecord the donor type and match; the donor’s personal details are usually confidential.
Transplant dayThe date, “Day 0”, is the start of the whole follow-up schedule.
VaccinesThe transplant team gives the re-vaccination schedule.
GVHDSigns in the skin, mouth, eyes, gut or liver and the treatment given should be recorded.

07Key terms

Autologous
Using your own stem cells.
Allogeneic
Using a donor’s stem cells.
HLA
Tissue matching markers.
GVHD
Graft-versus-host disease.
Chimerism
The ratio of donor to own cells.

08Key points

  • Get the transplant centre’s summary.
  • Record the type and donor.
  • Note GVHD episodes.
  • Keep the vaccine schedule.
  • Tell every new doctor about the transplant.

09Frequently asked questions

Can I meet my donor?

Some registries allow it after a set time and with both sides’ consent.

When are vaccines repeated?

The transplant team will give an individual schedule.

What if my blood group changed?

Write it on your card and mention it at every transfusion.

Does this information replace medical advice?

No. This is general education; only your treating doctor can assess your situation.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Can I meet my donor?

  2. When are vaccines repeated?

  3. What if my blood group changed?

  4. Does this information replace medical advice?

My questions

12Sources

  1. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants for Cancer
  2. Cancer.Net (ASCO). ASCO Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Care Plans
  3. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Follow-Up Medical Care
  4. Cancer.Net (ASCO). Follow-Up Care After Cancer Treatment
  5. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Cancer Survivorship
  6. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Gastrointestinal Complications (PDQ®)–Patient Version
  7. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Digestive Diseases
  8. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Bronchiolitis obliterans
  9. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 2015. Jagasia MH et al. NIH Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical Trials in Chronic GVHD: 2014 Diagnosis and Staging Working Group Report
  10. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Quitting Smoking
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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