OPS-Code 8-805.03:

You have been given blood stem cells from your blood.

Stem cells are cells that can develop into different types of cells. Blood cells develop from the blood stem cells. In adults, blood stem cells are mainly found inside some bones. From there the mature blood cells are released into the blood. A small amount of blood stem cells also enters the blood. Blood is made up of a liquid part and different blood cells, among other things. The blood cells include the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. White blood cells are part of the body’s immune system. They fight pathogens. Platelets are important for blood clotting.

Some diseases require treatments that can damage the bone marrow. This is the case with certain types of cancer, for example. For instance, radiation may be used to treat the affected part of the body. The person may also be given very high doses of certain drugs. These treatments also damage the healthy blood stem cells in the bone marrow. Before the treatment, healthy blood stem cells are therefore taken from the blood. After the treatment, you were given blood stem cells that were previously taken from your blood.

You were given a certain drug to allow the blood stem cells to be taken from your blood. This drug causes more blood stem cells to get from the bone to the blood. So there are more blood stem cells than usual in the blood.

Before you were given the blood stem cells, they were prepared using special methods.