A nurse is providing teaching to a client who will undergo chemotherapy and radiation prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). What statement will the nurse use to describe the purpose of the chemotherapy and radiation

The main purpose of these therapies are to suppress the immune system and destroy cancer cells of the blood by destroying the ability of the body to produce blood cells inside the bone marrow in preparation of the bone marrow for the new stem cells from the donor.

Explanation:

In the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) procedure is employed. It involves the infusion of healthy blood-forming stem cells from a donor into the body of the patient to initiate production of healthy blood cells after the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow of the patient has been destroyed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Before the stem transplant, the patient is subjected to a conditioning process or therapy, which involves undergoing a treatment through chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The main purpose of these therapies are to suppress the immune system and destroy cancer cells of the blood by destroying the ability of the body to produce blood cells inside the bone marrow in preparation of the bone marrow for the new stem cells from the donor.

After these therapies, the transplant infusion takes place, which is usually painless.