Another approach to chemotherapy uses autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). This allows doctors to replace the patient's original bone marrow after giving very high doses of chemotherapy.

In this procedure, bone marrow stem cells are taken from the patient's body. Next, very high-dose chemotherapy is given in attempt to kill all the brain cancer cells. This will also destroy all the bone marrow cells. After the drugs have been given, the stem cells are returned to the body. Here they can reproduce and restore normal bone marrow function.

Bone marrow transplant complications:

• Excessive bleeding
• Death
• Sepsis
• Wound infections