Radiation Therapy
In addition to chemotherapy, you may also receive radiation therapy to prepare your body for your transplant. Powerful x-rays will be aimed at your body to help destroy your bone marrow and any remaining cancer cells. The x-rays are the same kind used to see a broken bone, but they’re given in much higher doses.
How radiation is given:
Before your treatment, the technician will measure your body and mark it with a pen. These marks help the technician guide the x-rays to the right places. Heavy lead pads, or “blocks,” may be placed on parts of your body to protect sensitive organs. Because you must stay in one position without moving during the entire treatment, you may be given a medication to help you relax and remain still. Treatments usually last 10-15 minutes, and may be given two times a day, several days in a row.
What it feels like:
Getting radiation treatment is a lot like getting an x-ray: the machine makes a soft humming sound  and it doesn’t hurt. Some kids say that their skin feels warm and tingly afterwards. You may feel tired, and want to sleep when the treatment is over. (If you feel a little anxious being alone in the room during treatment, pages 19-21 give tips for making yourself more comfortable.)
Special Protection
After receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, your white blood cells will be destroyed. Germs that would normally not bother you can make you very sick at this stage. Cleanliness is especially important for you now.
To keep you safe from infection, doctors, nurses, and visitors may need to put on sanitary clothing such as hospital gowns, masks, and gloves before entering your room. Even more important, they’ll have to scrub with special germ-killing soap. Hand- washing is the best method to control infection. In fact, many hospitals encourage kids to be the hand-washing police. Join the squad—ask everyone who comes into your room, including your doctors and nurses: “Have you washed your hands?”
A Well-Deserved Break
You will probably be given a break from all therapy on the day before your transplant. This gives your body some time to recover and get rid of the chemotherapy, which could be harmful to the new marrow.