Iraqi woman gets new life with bone marrow transplant in India
By IANSThursday, September 23, 2010
NEW DELHI - Iraq-based Maha Muhammad had lost all hope for life when she was diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of 20. But she got a new lease of life after undergoing a bone marrow surgery in the capital.
In June 2010, Maha’s parents approached Delhi-based Fortis Hospital, to treat their young daughter. She was successfully treated through a unique bone marrow transplant.
Bone marrow, a tissue that produces blood cells in the body, needs to be replaced in case of chemotherapy failure. Stem cells from a donor are cultured and transferred to the recipient’s body in the form of new bone marrow.
The success rate of such transplants are slim, believe experts.
“In Maha’s case, we were able to retrieve bone marrow cells from her brother because of a matching donor blood group. The transplant was successful because of that,” said Rakesh Ojha, head of department of bone marrow transplant at Fortis International Oncology Centre.
Maha had undergone four cycles of chemotherapy in Iraq before she came to Delhi. Even after the therapy, residues of cancer cells were found in Maha’s blood.
“When cancer is not eliminated even after chemotherapy, we are only left with the option of Allogeneic bone marrow transplants in which the stem cells are donated by the sibling of the patient,” Ojha added.
The recipient acquires the donor’s blood group and immune system also.
“The patient has not completed even 30 days of transplant and she is able to walk. It is a big achievement for the doctors in the field of oncology,” said Ashok Chordiya, director of Fortis Hospital, Noida.
The patient remains on immuno-suppressant medication for a period of 2-3 months, after which he is suggested precautionary measures to prevent any infections.
The average cost of such transplants ranges between Rs. 20-25 lakh.
Around 1,000 patients require bone marrow transplants every year in India, of whom only 200 are able to receive it. There are only around 20 such transplant centres across the country.
