Bone Marrow donor?

[Homercidal]

Have a family issue that may result in someone in my extended family needing a bone marrow transplant, and it reminded me of why I signed up as a donor many years ago. I'd like to take a moment to encourage you to sign up as well.

Many people donate blood. I've done it on and off for several years now (usually when I can remember and it's been long enough since the last time.) It's a fairly quick and easy process which can often save a person's life.

Donating marrow these days is usually not all that much different, but the need is as immense, as donating blood. The simple fact is, a LOT of lives could be saved if more people signed up and got tested for compatibility.

At this point I'm sure a lot of you are wondering, "What does it take to donate marrow, how much does it cost, and does it hurt?"

And the answer is: all it takes is to sign up, donate a bit of saliva (Cheek swab) for matching purposes, and wait. If you are matched you will be contacted and schedule follow up communication and get scheduled for blood draws to check compatibility even closer. There may be more blood draws and maybe some X-rays prior to the procedure to make sure all is good with the donor. The whole thing usually takes several weeks from start to finish.

How much does it cost? Usually about free. Sometimes there is a small fee to collect samples for testing, but it's at least tax deductible. When I donated samples it was free, and if I recall correctly it was done through my employer at the time.

Lastly, does it hurt? Well, yes. To varying degrees. However, there is a good chance it won't hurt much more than donating blood.

If possible they will utilize a process similar to donated Red Blood Cells, called Apheresis which involves hooking up to a machine which collects blood like a regular blood donation, but then filters cells from your blood and places it back in your body. I've donated double reds a few times and it's not a big deal, even though for some reason the needle has sometimes come loose during the replacement and I get a bump and some bruising and some small amount of pain, but this is worst case, and the mild pain (more like pressure) lasts only a few minutes. When donating marrow this process collects very young cells (Peripheral Blood Stem Cells), rather than red blood cells. Usually you take a medicine about a week before to increase the number of these cells, and donate a little blood to be used during the procedure to replace some of your blood with your own blood. Basically it's no more difficult or painful than donating double reds. This is the process used in about 70% of the donations these days!

The other process is a surgical process in which you are put under general anethesia and the collect liquid marrow from your pelvic bone using a needle. This one has more risks simply due to having anesthesia, but is by no means a dangerous procedure. There is also a chance for a longer lasting pain, although most donors say they are back to normal lifestyle in a couple of days and the back to 100% normal in a few weeks. This is the traditional process and isn't used as often these days, but as I understand it certain patients, like younger children, benefit from this type of donation more than the other method.

I highly encourage anyone who wants to be a hero and save a person's life to go online and get more information. Here is one location you can visit to find out more information and to get signed up to get on the donor list.

www.bethematch.org

https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-bone-marrow-donation


I hope more people realize that donating is usually much easier and less painful than it used to be, and once people read about others' experiences donating they will be moved to donate themselves. If you are considering signing up, please read a couple of blog posts from people who have done it.

http://www.oncolink.org/coping/article.cfm?c=400&id=105
http://blog.bradpine.com/2012/01/04...stem-cells-fight-leukemia-and-become-a-donor/
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/25/health/bone-marrow-donation/


-Homer

 

[SharonaZamboni]

I've been on the donor list for quite some time, but have never been contacted.

 

[Cheesy_Goodness]

Bit curious how it's similar to donating double reds. I usually do platelets every other weekend so I'd be no stranger to the process, but I every source I've looked at says you get stuck in the pelvic region. Is the location of the stick(s) the only real difference?

 

[beernbourbon]

Been on it, and updating info for probably 25 years. I just hope they are testing everyone correctly, so many can go untreated if not. I was contacted once, years ago, but only got the first check and was never contacted again.

 

[beernbourbon]

Bit curious how it's similar to donating double reds. I usually do platelets every other weekend so I'd be no stranger to the process, but I every source I've looked at says you get stuck in the pelvic region. Is the location of the stick(s) the only real difference?

I could be wrong, as my information is rather dated, and it really doesn't matter to me, but I believe it used to be a rather large bore needle that was inserted into hip bone. Something about highest concentration of pure cells. Again, info could be out of date, I don't have time at the moment to research at Homer's link to the site, but that is where the best info is. IMHO the pain that might be involved is minuscule compared to A-what the 'donee' is probably going through, and B-the possibility of saving another human being's life.
I too was an every 8 donor, then had to take some time off after a trip to Central America, but when I got back on the horse, I started doing doubles. That's the way to go, might be a bit longer, but you can help so many more people that way, and more often.

Edit: ok, maybe I shoulda read Homer's post a little closer.....

 

[Homercidal]

Bit curious how it's similar to donating double reds. I usually do platelets every other weekend so I'd be no stranger to the process, but I every source I've looked at says you get stuck in the pelvic region. Is the location of the stick(s) the only real difference?

As I said, all the information I've red is that the old process is only used about 30% of the time these days, usually for younger patients as they seem to respond better to liquid bone marrow. I've even heard that it's the donor's choice which they would do, but the doctor indicates their preference based on the patient.

The Peripheral Blood Stem Cell process is very similar to donating Double Reds using an apheresis machine. For about a week before the procedure the donor is giving daily injections of a drug to stimulate the release of the PBSC. Then, on the day of the procedure, they are hooked up to an apheresis machine and their blood is collected, the desired BPSC cells are recovered, and the remaining blood is pumped back into the donor.

The big difference between this and regular double reds is that it seems the machine uses two needles, one going in, and one going out, while in my experience donating double reds, the machine uses one needle, alternating 3 -4 times collecting blood, and returning blood.

These PBSCs are essentially bone marrow cells that leak out from the bones and get into the bloodstream. They are very similar to bone marrow.

I can't explain how you aren't finding more information about this. I haven't found a site yet that doesn't list this and the more common option these days.

I'd much rather do this than having a large needle stuck in my pelvis in several places and having liquid marrow pulled out. Then again, if it were to save someone's life I'd do it in either case. As I understand your body heals and the marrow is replaced within several weeks.

 

[Homercidal]

Oh, and platelets must be different. I think the waiting time between double reds is like 2 months. It's twice the wait of doing regular blood donations.

I've actually stopped doing double reds on the recommendation of the donation site. I'm a prime candidate (higher iron levels) but for some reason the needle pumping back in tends to come out and causes a bit of swelling and bruising. Not a big deal, actually, but they have to stop the process and they require a certain minimum before they can process it. If there is a risk they won't get the minimum, they'd rather get a pint of blood.

I will try again soon. They say I should try again after making sure to be well hydrated, since being hydrated makes the veins easier to work with.

EDIT: http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations#double_red

112 days between Double Red donations, platelets seem to be different.

 

[RichH]

I've been on the donor list for quite some time, but have never been contacted.

Same here. I've never been called.

 

[Cheesy_Goodness]

As I said, all the information I've red is that the old process is only used about 30% of the time these days, usually for younger patients as they seem to respond better to liquid bone marrow. I've even heard that it's the donor's choice which they would do, but the doctor indicates their preference based on the patient.

The Peripheral Blood Stem Cell process is very similar to donating Double Reds using an apheresis machine. For about a week before the procedure the donor is giving daily injections of a drug to stimulate the release of the PBSC. Then, on the day of the procedure, they are hooked up to an apheresis machine and their blood is collected, the desired BPSC cells are recovered, and the remaining blood is pumped back into the donor.

The big difference between this and regular double reds is that it seems the machine uses two needles, one going in, and one going out, while in my experience donating double reds, the machine uses one needle, alternating 3 -4 times collecting blood, and returning blood.

These PBSCs are essentially bone marrow cells that leak out from the bones and get into the bloodstream. They are very similar to bone marrow.

I can't explain how you aren't finding more information about this. I haven't found a site yet that doesn't list this and the more common option these days.

I'd much rather do this than having a large needle stuck in my pelvis in several places and having liquid marrow pulled out. Then again, if it were to save someone's life I'd do it in either case. As I understand your body heals and the marrow is replaced within several weeks.

That makes more sense. I was missing that the injections you get prior to donating encourage more marrow in the blood that will get drawn out. Otherwise, I didn't see a difference in the process between that method and platelets.

With platelets you do get stuck twice, usually once in each arm. One needle is output where your blood travels into a centrifuge (I think), collects platelets, and returns everything else back to you. You can donate platelets every 7 days if you're able, and each donation can yield up to three units. From the time I walk in to the time I walk out is usually 3-4 hours.

I've had more than one occasion in 120+ donations where they had to screw around with the needle after it was in, and almost every time was because I didn't drink enough water immediately before, or I exercised earlier that day.

 

[PLOVE]

Amazingly I've been called three times. Even ended up being a 7 pt match the second time around, but by the time the testing was complete the patient had died. Felt sad. . . I know there was nothing I could do, but 6 wk turn-around for testing results seemed unnecessarily slow. . .

 

[dkwolf]

Oh, and platelets must be different. I think the waiting time between double reds is like 2 months. It's twice the wait of doing regular blood donations.

I've actually stopped doing double reds on the recommendation of the donation site. I'm a prime candidate (higher iron levels) but for some reason the needle pumping back in tends to come out and causes a bit of swelling and bruising. Not a big deal, actually, but they have to stop the process and they require a certain minimum before they can process it. If there is a risk they won't get the minimum, they'd rather get a pint of blood.

I will try again soon. They say I should try again after making sure to be well hydrated, since being hydrated makes the veins easier to work with.

EDIT: http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations#double_red

112 days between Double Red donations, platelets seem to be different.

I've done a double red donation close to two dozen times now.

At my donation center, the machine collects a full unit of blood, processes it, and then returns everything but the white blood cells. It then draws a second unit of blood, and repeats the process. During the return process, you also get a unit of saline added - so you are walking out the door afterwards with the same volume of fluid in your bloodstream as you walked in with. (Because of the saline, I usually just about can't make the drive across town to my house before I have to piss like a race horse)

So the donation process goes Draw - Return - Draw - Return. Takes around an hour for the entire process, depending on how long you sit in processing before they stick the needle in you.

Hydration is KEY, as if you're not well hydrated, there's less fluid in your system and the veins are smaller, and harder to work with.


However, because that worthless POS metric "BMI" is used as part of the screening process, I will never be eligible to register as a bone marrow donor. I will admit that I'm overweight, but I've got a fairly solid frame - according to the BMI, I'm morbidly obese.

 

[Homercidal]

Yes, the BMI is worthless.

And people can change, so I'm not sure what the point of it is. Even people who are perfectly within spec according to the BMI chart can gain excessive weight, and people who were once over the spec can lose weight through surgery or other means. They keep the registration lists for a LONG time and of course things change, people change... interest rates fluctuate...

There are also a couple of things on the blood donor specs that seem outdated to me, but that only increases the urgency for those who CAN donate, to actually get registered and donate.

 

[Natdavis777]

We do a lot of diagnostic Bone Marrow biopsies/aspirations, which are CT-guided through the posterior ilium. Patients are typically given a combo of Versed/Fentanyl, and a good dose of local anesthetic. Most go pretty painless, with the most discomfort during the actual aspiration of the bone marrow. Like stated though, you are usually back to the your normal self in a few days. Just feels like you have been kicked in the rump pretty hard.

Though this process seems intimidating, it is actually a really quick, straight-forward procedure.

 

[Cheesy_Goodness]

Sorry for the thread necromancy but wanted to give a shout out to @Homercidal for starting this thread back in 2015. I ended up signing up not long after the initial post. I didn't know much about the registry before then but this thread gave me the motivation to sign up.
Over the summer I was informed I was a match for someone, and this past Monday donated stem cells to a patient with leukemia.
The process really wasn't bad. It involved 4 days worth of shots of filgrastim to up my white blood cell count. The fifth day I got the final injections (so 5 rounds total, two shots each time), and did the actual donation. I felt hungover for a few days while getting the shots (headache, fatigue) but the actual donation was pretty easy. I felt back to normal about 24 hours after except a small lingering headache.

The program really prefers 18-44 year olds. I know there are a lot of people on this board within that age range so if you're able, please consider signing up.

https://join.bethematch.org