Preparation

Before you have a stem cell or bone marrow transplant

Before having a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, your doctor will talk to you about the stages of the treatment and how to prepare for it.

It's important to stay as healthy as you can and manage your condition while you're waiting to have a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. This will help with your recovery.

Your hospital may offer a programme of support and advice that focuses on things such as diet, exercise and mental health before having a transplant. This is sometimes called "prehabilitation" or "prehab".

Tests before a transplant

You'll have tests to make sure you're well enough to have a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

These may include:

tests of your heart, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) and an echocardiogram
an X-ray or CT scan to check organs like your lungs and liver
blood tests to check your blood cells and how well your liver and kidneys are working
a bone marrow biopsy if you have cancer, to see if it's under control

Find out more

Prehabilitation (prehab) and stem cell transplant (Anthony Nolan)

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

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