Bone Marrow Donation

23 Nov 2004

In light of Callista's sad news, a number of people have asked about becoming bone marrow donors. Having donated myself, I've gathered together some information and links.
Why is bone marrow needed ?
In order to cure Leukaemia it's necessary to destroy the patient's bone marrow using chemo or radiotherapy. Marrow from a healthy, matching donor is then tranfused into the patient's blood to replace it.
Can I become a donor ?
Maybe, you need to meet the normal requirements for blood doning, and also and attend a registration session, more details in the links at the bottom of this post.
Edit - It's come to my attention that the National Blood Service accept a slightly wider age range of donors than the AN Trust
I'm O Neg, can I donate directly to someone who needs bone marrow ?
No. If you decide to become a donor your details will join the databases held by the and/or the
Why not ?
It's important that the tissue being donated is a match to the patient or it will be rejected. A process called HLA (Human leukocyte antigen) matching, better known as tissue typing, has to be carried out to ensure a match. Your HLA profile will be recorded onto the donor databases, so that a match may be made with a patient in need.
What happens if I do become a donor ?
If and when your marrow is needed, one of two procedures, either a small operation using a needle to extract bone marrow from your pelvis, or, increasingly, a non-surgical procedure which extracts cells directly from your blood, will be used.
Thorough medicals are carried out before any procedure and the risks of donation are minimal.
There is further information on bone marrow doning on the website and the website.

23 Nov 2004

Thank you JonJon smile

23 Nov 2004

:( :( Bolloxs.....
I registered my details earlier on another website but looking at the list on the Anthony Nolan site I am excluded on 3 counts.... :cry: :cry:
Shireen
xxx
P.S. Brilliant post JonJon wink

23 Nov 2004

Quote by shireen-steve
:( :( Bolloxs.....
I registered my details earlier on another website but looking at the list on the Anthony Nolan site I am excluded on 3 counts.... :cry: :cry:
Shireen
xxx
P.S. Brilliant post JonJon

Shireen,
Both Morbius and I are both excluded, me on a number of conditions and Morbius on his weight (diet started already I will add) don't feel bad ... just the supoprt you've offered means the world to us.
kiss

23 Nov 2004

Thank you Calista I feel a little better now passionkiss

Tell Morbius that lots of sex is good for a diet wink

Shireen
xxx

24 Nov 2004

I would probably be excluded due to my hep b inoculations
:cry:

24 Nov 2004

I've been registered as a donor with the Anthony Nolan Trust for about 4 years now but am on a year off at the mo cos I had a new tattoo done a couple weeks back.
We also had a drive for getting people to register when one of my close family was ill with cancer.
Hope everything works out for you all
Bunny x x x x

24 Nov 2004

Quote by steve-shireen
I would probably be excluded due to my hep b inoculations
:cry:

Can I just point out here that Steve has had to have his Hep B jabs because of his weekend hobby and not because of any sinister reason.... Thought i better mention it incase anyone saw it and thought bolt

Shireen
xxx

24 Nov 2004

i was gonna leave em guessing

:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

24 Nov 2004

ops: :oops:
Sorry babe lol

Shireen
xxx

24 Nov 2004

Hehe Steve, had mine (hep B) for my weekend hobby as well, yours involve blue lights as well? I will have to check out the bone marrow site, not sure if I will qualify but I have been a blood doner so fingers crossed.
Will check tomorrow lunchtime as bed calling tonight. Good thread smile

Edit: Poo cant do it, I have psoriasis, mild but it treated with steroids sad

Good luck to everyone else.

24 Nov 2004

Quote by tallnhairy
Hehe Steve, had mine (hep B) for my weekend hobby as well, yours involve blue lights as well? I will have to check out the bone marrow site, not sure if I will qualify but I have been a blood doner so fingers crossed.
Will check tomorrow lunchtime as bed calling tonight. Good thread

It does involve blue lights............
But at motor racing circuits

24 Nov 2004

Quote by steve-shireen
Hehe Steve, had mine (hep B) for my weekend hobby as well, yours involve blue lights as well? I will have to check out the bone marrow site, not sure if I will qualify but I have been a blood doner so fingers crossed.
Will check tomorrow lunchtime as bed calling tonight. Good thread

It does involve blue lights............
But at motor racing circuits
Ahh mine normally at motor cross ones, sounds similar :) Will stop hijacking now, hehe...

24 Nov 2004

Thanks for the link JonJon
I have been a registered donor for Anthony Nolan for a few years now
Unfortunately i realise i am unable to donate on two counts
1) My height is yet to grow into my weight
2) My alcohol intake is way to high
I guess if my bone marrow was needed i could address these issues
Just to add to JonJon's post once registered with these bodies please inform them of any change of address, imagine if you matched someone in need, and anthony nolan or blood transfusion could not contact you, it has happened in the past and unfortunately will probably happen in the future
Stunning effort jonjon by the way

24 Nov 2004

Well I've just had a look and the only thing stopping me from donating is the pregnancy, but if I register when the baby is born, I should be ready to donate when it is 1 yr old. biggrin

Not much use now I know sad

.. but at least it could help someone in a similar position.

24 Nov 2004

Quote by xxdevil69
Well I've just had a look and the only thing stopping me from donating is the pregnancy, but if I register when the baby is born, I should be ready to donate when it is 1 yr old. Not much use now I know .. but at least it could help someone in a similar position.

Personally if their is a registration session near you whilst you are pregnant go and get your little prick (ooooerr mrs!!)
that way you will be on the database and if they need you then they can exclude you due to pregnancy. After the birth you may find you are too busy to register

24 Nov 2004

Yikes, that's quite a requirements list.
I definitely don't qualify on the grounds of having a heart murmur (though it doesn't require treatment).
Might be one or two others which would disqualify me too.

24 Nov 2004

Thanks for this information JonJon and what a great post,

24 Nov 2004

:cry: I can't help either....weight and high blood pressure...im upset now....at least the weight i can do something about...but my blood pressure seems permant now.....but mr hugs can i think if he goes on a small diet too........so i'll get him to register soon lol

...
But i hope everything goes well and well done jonjon....what a great thread

24 Nov 2004

Ill admit that I probably could but am shit scared the last time I gave blood I nearly keeled over, I was chuffed with the fact that I done it but had to get a taxi home and sleep for a few hours and even then I felt really groggy! confused

Does it hurt or have any effects similar to giving blood?? Sorry just ignore me if that was in JonJons post i will go look and check again in a minute.

24 Nov 2004

Quote by fruity1976
Does it hurt or have any effects similar to giving blood??

To register all that's needed is a 10ml sample of your blood (less than is taken for most other routine blood tests). The National Blood Service would take this at one of their centres, the Anthony Nolan trust either at a recruitment clinic, or via a kit they send out for your GP or local hospital to take the sample. More details for AN and from the National Blood Service.

24 Nov 2004

Cheers I dont mind so much the blood thing just the after effects and what the after effects would be like if donating bone marrow!
But I definetly would go for it!