Stem cell therapy (autologous) involves wiping out your entire immune system and then rebuilding it from scratch using your own stem cells. It uses (usually) strong chemo drugs to do the wiping out, which themselves are toxic and have tons of side effects. You are rendered weak, with a high risk of secondary infection that requires you to basically isolate yourself until your immune system recovers. It’s very unpleasant. Close family member is currently in the midst of it for multiple myeloma, and spent an extra week in the hospital from secondary infection.
