Bone Marrow Transplant in Israel

First, it is helpful to understand what a bone marrow transplant (also called a stem cell transplant), is and how it works. This procedure involves taking cells that are normally found in the bone marrow (stem cells), filtering them, and infusing them back into the body of the patient in order to replace diseased or damaged bone marrow. Bone marrow transplants can use cells from the patient’s own body (autologous) or from a donor (allogeneic).

When the chemotherapy or radiation doses used to treat cancer are so potent that the person’s stem cells are damaged, a bone marrow transplant is usually needed. In Israel, this advanced procedure may be used to treat the following conditions:

1. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL): A cancer of the lymphatic system that can be aggressive or develop slowly. NHL is actually a group of similar diseases, and not one single disease.
2. Hodgkin Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymphocytes and the bone marrow, which is usually highly treatable.
3. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL): This type of leukemia is the primary form of childhood leukemia, although it can also be found in adults.
4. Chronic Lymphocytic Anemia (CLL): A rarer form of cancer than ALL, this type develops slowly and tends to affect adults more often than children.
5. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML): Typically seen in adults over age 50, CML is rare and slow developing.

The best way to fully appreciate the benefits of bone marrow transplant in Israel is to read this first-hand account of how Ivan Egorov’s life was saved.

In May, 2012, Ivan Egorov was diagnosed with leukemia at 23 months old. His mother, Yulia, describes his frightening diagnosis as “… suddenly the earth crumbled under my feet.” Ivan received his first treatments in Russia, with four months of 24-hour IV tubes in a isolated sterile environment in the hospital. Ivan was in constant pain throughout this time, and it took him two months to recover from the first high-dose chemotherapy. His first results after the initial chemo were positive, and the family was hopeful. However, they knew that a bone marrow transplant was necessary – and they wanted to find the best place to perform this critical treatment.

A number of first-hand reviews of the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic at Sheba Medical Center in Israel led Yulia to book a consultation. Shortly thereafter, Ivan arrived at Sheba.

“We had a warm welcome,” says Yulia. “The doctors immediately took a blood sample for crossmatch testing… they immediately inspired my trust, and I never doubted their professionalism.”

Ivan’s brother, Nick, was determined to be a perfect donor match, and two months after his arrival in Israel, Ivan received his bone marrow transplant.

“The staff at Sheba was exceptional… the doctors, nurses, and medical coordinators were brilliant and supportive. And after the bone marrow transplant was completed,” says Yulia, “my son had a whole life ahead of him.”

At Sheba, we believe in taking care of the whole body to promote healing. Our multidisciplinary team pays attention to each patient’s psychological, intellectual, and social needs, in addition to treating the physical disease. To help reduce the stress caused by coping with cancer and being hospitalized, we assign a personal coordinator from our Global Patient Services team to assist with every detail of a patient’s stay at Sheba.