When an autologous (self-donated) stem cell transplant is planned, a procedure called apheresis is utilized to collect your blood stem cells. Before apheresis, you will receive daily injections of growth factors. These growth factors stimulate the bone marrow to produce more stem cells and release them into your bloodstream, preparing them for collection. During the apheresis procedure, blood is drawn from a vein and passed through a specialized machine. This machine efficiently separates the stem cells from the other blood components. The collected stem cells are then cryopreserved (frozen) for subsequent use in the transplant process.