What to Expect During Treatment

A Day-to-Day Guide for Bone Marrow Transplant and Gene-Based Therapies

Preparing for a transformative therapy can feel a bit overwhelming—not because you aren’t used with hospital settings, but because certain aspects of the treatment experience are unfamiliar. Our goal is to help you understand what daily life during treatment often looks like, from hospital admission through early recovery, so you can feel informed, prepared, and supported.

Every patient journey is different. This guide reflects common experiences—not guarantees.

Before Hospital Admission

Before treatment begins, you will complete a series of evaluations and preparation steps to ensure you are ready.

You can expect:

Final medical testing and clearance
Placement of a central line or port
Conditioning education (chemotherapy or reduced-intensity regimens)
Meetings with your care team, transplant coordinator, and social worker
Final caregiver and logistics planning

This phase often brings anticipation, fear, and hope—all of which are valid.

Hospital Admission & Conditioning

Once admitted, treatment begins with conditioning therapy, which prepares your body to receive new or modified cells.

Day-to-Day Expectations:

Daily labs, vital signs, and symptom check-ins
IV medications, hydration, and anti-nausea support
Fatigue, nausea, appetite changes, or brain fog
Limited mobility at first, with encouragement to walk when safe
Strict infection-prevention precautions

This period can feel intense—physically and emotionally—and often requires deep rest and patience.

Cell Infusion Day

Whether receiving donor stem cells or your own gene-modified cells, infusion day is usually short and anticlimacticcompared to what people expect.

The infusion itself is often painless
You may feel tired, emotional, or relieved afterward
The real work happens in the days that follow

The Waiting Phase (Engraftment or Cell Recovery)

After infusion, your body needs time to recover and rebuild.

You may experience:

Low blood counts
Increased fatigue
Mouth sores, taste changes, or GI symptoms
Emotional ups and downs
Isolation or boredom

This phase requires close monitoring and emotional resilience. Progress is often slow—but meaningful.

Discharge Preparation

Before leaving the hospital, your team will ensure:

Your counts are stable enough for discharge
You and your caregiver understand medications and warning signs
Follow-up appointments are scheduled
Home safety and transportation plans are in place

Discharge can bring relief—and anxiety. Both are normal.