Question

How are stem cells used to treat leukemia? (3 sentence minimum)
8th grade level

Answer 1

Stem cells are used to treat leukemia through a procedure called a stem cell transplant. In this treatment, doctors first give patients high doses of chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells in the blood and bone marrow. Afterward, healthy stem cells from a donor or the patient's own body are infused into the bloodstream, where they can help rebuild the blood and immune system, allowing the body to fight off any remaining cancer cells and recover from the treatment. Overall, this approach gives patients a better chance to go into remission and can help their bodies produce healthy blood cells again.