ELI5, how does a bone marrow transplant work?

Question

From what I understand most bones have marrow, therefore how does a transplant work if it is throughout your body?

In: Biology

Answer 1

The recipient first has their marrow destroyed using either chemo or radiation. *Then* the donor marrow or donor stems cells are injected. The donor marrow/stem cells will naturally find their way to the proper location and set up shop so they can begin replication and producing new blood cells for recipient, and the recipient’s old marrow is gone so there’s nothing in the way.