How to donate bone marrow
Donating bone marrow is a great step you can take to help save lives. Thousands of patients with leukemia and other blood related illnesses depend on bone marrow donors to ave their lives. Currently, there is a Bone Marrow registry available for anyone in the United States who wishes to become a bone marrow donor. Once you are placed on this list, you are among thousands of donors like yourself who are offering their bone marrow to someone in need. If you are selected, there are a few different steps involved.
1. The first step is getting on the registry. Anyone age 18 – 60 with the appropriate health is eligible to become a bone marrow donor. You’ll need to complete a short health survey as well as give a swab of cheek cells in order to determine whether or not you’re fit for the registry.
2. Everyday, doctors search the bone marrow registry to find close matches for their patients. If you are chosen as a potential match for a patient, the bone marrow registry will contact you. If you agree to proceed with the donation, you’ll be scheduled for additional testing. During this testing, you’ll learn more about the donation process, as well as the risks and side effects which are associated with it.
4. If you agree to the donation after receiving all the information, you’ll be given a physical to make sure the donation is safe for you. Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure in which you’ll receive anesthesia. The marrow is collected using special hollow needles which draw the liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones.
5. If a peripheral blood donation is requested instead of a bone marrow transplant, for up to five days before your donation you’ll receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim. This moves your blood-forming cells out of your bone marrow and into your bloodstream, allowing for easier collection.
6. Some side effects do occur, such as soreness and tenderness in the lower back for a few days. Many donors are back on their feet and into their normal routine a couple of days after their donation. Your bone marrow is completely resorted within four to six weeks and you’re eligible to donate again.
After the donation, you’ll receive follow ups at first weekly, and then annually afterwards. If you wish to remain on the registry, you may do so and be given the chance to help someone else in need.
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