Rehabilitation and stem cell transplant
Preparing for a stem cell transplant
Stem cell transplantation (SCT) has been recommended as the best treatment for your child. SCT is
physically demanding, but there is much you can do to help your child maintain strength, flexibility and
endurance throughout treatment.
If your child is medically able, regular exercise in the weeks before a transplant will help keep him
or her in the best possible shape. Ideally, it should be some kind of exercise he or she enjoys, such as
biking. Young children will benefit from playground activities and tricycles. A vigorous daily 15-minute
walk is a simple but effective exercise.
While in the hospital
Exercise and a high level of activity are important for:
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Keeping muscles strong and flexible;
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Improving circulation;
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Maintaining independence in everyday tasks;
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Increasing energy levels;
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Increasing appetite; and
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Helping to manage stress.
Exercise should be a part of your child’s daily routine and needs to be done at least three times a day.
Younger children usually like to be up and playing. If your child is older, it is often harder to get him or
her out of the bed to exercise, especially if he or she is not feeling well. We know it is hard, but exercise
is vital. Getting out of bed to sit in a chair, or work at a table is a great start. An exercise bike may be
available for older children and adults. For toddlers and young children, nurses will mark off an area of
the floor with tape, special cleaning will be performed, and the child will have a safe and quiet place for
floor play.
If there are times when your child feels too ill to get out of bed, some stretching and flexibility can help.
Even when your child feels at his or her worst, you should encourage him or her to get up and out of bed
to get dressed, get into a chair three times a day, and walk to the bathroom.
Using a calendar
A stem cell transplant is stressful for both the child and the family. Children usually handle stress better
when they have a familiar routine to follow. Developing and keeping a daily schedule is a reminder of
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what is expected each day. It provides clear directions for daily activities. It also is a way to assure that
fun activities and plenty of rest can fit into the day. Working with your child to develop a daily schedule
also allows your child to feel some control. Feeling that your child has a say in how his or her days are
spent increases cooperation.
Family and friends can help
After weeks of long and exhausting treatment, it is very difficult to keep motivated for rehabilitation.
Here are a few ways to help.
Respect
Children and teens may feel that they have no control over the situation. Allow your child
to set goals and aid in the decision-making during rehabilitation to ease these feelings of
helplessness. Respecting their feelings is also very important for their self-esteem.
Clarify
With so much new information about diagnosis and treatment, your child may be overwhelmed and confused. Try to simplify the information for him or her to make things easier
to understand.
Reassure Stem cell transplants can be scary for young patients. Feeling overwhelmed, isolated and
helpless, children need others for support and reassurance. Setting realistic goals for your
child during rehabilitation can help with this. Try to make the exercise sessions fun and
rewarding. In addition, try following a daily routine to help ease your child into a regular
lifestyle again.
Encourage Even after treatment and rehab, encouraging your child to remain active is very important.
Try including active family outings into day-to-day activities. For example, walking, hiking,
biking and dancing can be fun activities for friends and family. Encourage group activities
that involve movement and interaction. Interactive activities can also help develop social
skills for children who have been separated from their peers. Goal-oriented activities also
keep children motivated and can improve their self-esteem.
Adapted with permission from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Revised 2003
UC Davis Cancer Center 12/06
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