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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
PSCS
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Mar 28, 2001 12:00AM
Dear Shelia,
Stem cells are immature cells that produce blood cells, these are found in our body’s bone marrow (the soft, sponge-like material found inside bones). There are three types of blood cells; white blood cells, which fight infection; red blood cells, which carry oxygen to and remove waste products from organs and tissues; and platelets, which enable the blood to clot.
Most stem cells are found in the bone marrow, but some stem cells called peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) can be found in the bloodstream. Stem cells can divide to form more stem cells, or they can mature into white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets.
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy generally affect cells that divide rapidly, they are used to treat cancer because cancer cells divide more often than most healthy cells. However, because bone marrow cells and stem cells also divide frequently, treatments can damage a patient’s bone marrow and stem cells. When these cells are damaged a person is at higher risk of infection, anemia, and bleeding problems.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Support (PBSCS) uses medications called growth factors, which help a person to recover their blood cells faster in between treatments. These medications are given as injections under the skin usually daily for a specific length of time after treatment until the usual point in time when the cells start to recover on their own. The growth factor most often used in this manner is more specific to the white blood stem cell. The goal of using PBSCS is that a person may have fewer incidences of infection, anemia, or bleeding problems during chemotherapy.
There is also a treatment for cancer called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (PBSCT) in which a person’s bone marrow stem cells are destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. After this healthy stem cells, which have been stored, are then transplanted to the individual to restore the bone marrow’s ability to produce the blood cells the patient needs. There continues to be controversy over whether PBSCT or bone marrow transplant is an effective treatment for breast cancer.
Stem cells are immature cells that produce blood cells, these are found in our body’s bone marrow (the soft, sponge-like material found inside bones). There are three types of blood cells; white blood cells, which fight infection; red blood cells, which carry oxygen to and remove waste products from organs and tissues; and platelets, which enable the blood to clot.
Most stem cells are found in the bone marrow, but some stem cells called peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) can be found in the bloodstream. Stem cells can divide to form more stem cells, or they can mature into white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets.
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy generally affect cells that divide rapidly, they are used to treat cancer because cancer cells divide more often than most healthy cells. However, because bone marrow cells and stem cells also divide frequently, treatments can damage a patient’s bone marrow and stem cells. When these cells are damaged a person is at higher risk of infection, anemia, and bleeding problems.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Support (PBSCS) uses medications called growth factors, which help a person to recover their blood cells faster in between treatments. These medications are given as injections under the skin usually daily for a specific length of time after treatment until the usual point in time when the cells start to recover on their own. The growth factor most often used in this manner is more specific to the white blood stem cell. The goal of using PBSCS is that a person may have fewer incidences of infection, anemia, or bleeding problems during chemotherapy.
There is also a treatment for cancer called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (PBSCT) in which a person’s bone marrow stem cells are destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. After this healthy stem cells, which have been stored, are then transplanted to the individual to restore the bone marrow’s ability to produce the blood cells the patient needs. There continues to be controversy over whether PBSCT or bone marrow transplant is an effective treatment for breast cancer.
