Stem Cell/ Bone Marrow Donation

[suebee]

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

Bumping this thread up
not ever patient can donate their own stem cells
and even when they do there is still a chance
they will NOT go into remission.
Donors are desperately needed to save their lives.
Again it only takes a cheek swab

When I'm able to I'll certainly be putting my name on the registry. Three more years.

So, in the interest of full disclosure: folks who are interested should read the information on the link Spirit Dancer provided. All it takes to REGISTER is a cheek swab. From that they can determine if you're a match to anyone on the waiting list. Donation is a different procedure if you should be a suitable match. But it sure is worth it if you end up saving a life!

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by cybersuebee

When I'm able to I'll certainly be putting my name on the registry. Three more years.

So, in the interest of full disclosure: folks who are interested should read the information on the link Spirit Dancer provided. All it takes to REGISTER is a cheek swab. From that they can determine if you're a match to anyone on the waiting list. Donation is a different procedure if you should be a suitable match. But it sure is worth it if you end up saving a life!

Afternoon Cynbersuebee
The donation is actually very easy too, it only requires four daily injections to produce those wonderful little stem cells, then you're hooked up to an IV and they harvest them, it's about as painful as donating blood and is done in the same fashion as blood donation.
Now if they need the bone marrow donation that is a bit painful as they harvest from the iliac crest and it requires more. The plus side is around 95% are now done through IV harvesting. Yay for you on alomst the 3 yr mark

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

Afternoon Cynbersuebee
The donation is actually very easy too, it only requires four daily injections to produce those wonderful little stem cells, then you're hooked up to an IV and they harvest them, it's about as painful as donating blood and is done in the same fashion as blood donation.
Now if they need the bone marrow donation that is a bit painful as they harvest from the iliac crest and it requires more. The plus side is around 95% are now done through IV harvesting. Yay for you on alomst the 3 yr mark

One afternoon or a few days of discomfort vs. saving a life?
That's not a hard decision to make.
Now that I know the pain that goes with the big "C"?
Even a needle in the hip bone to save somebody from that cannot compare.

[Toughy]

Yes, it's just a cheek swab to determine your HLA typing, however if you are a match it can be a very different story depending on whether it's bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells (this comes from the FAQ of marrow.org website):

Q: How are bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation different?

A: Donating bone marrow is a surgical procedure done under general or regional anesthesia in a hospital. While a donor receives anesthesia, doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the pelvic bone.

PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure done in an outpatient clinic. PBSC donors receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim for five days, to increase the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream. Then, through a process called apheresis, a donor's blood is removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm.

[SuperFemme]

if i had pure marrow i would do it in a second.
but then, i am no stranger to bone marrow aspirations so it doesn't frighten me.

[Blaze]

Thank you Spirit Dancer for posting this thread. I went to work this morning. I talked with my CEO and she sent out a e-mail to everyone in our facility. I was so happy to see the response! We will be having a drive Tuesday. And at this very moment we have 64 people signed up to get there cheek swab, and yes, I had to explain to a few of our fellow employees that it's not the cheek that there originally thinking about
Finally our hospital has something to be excited about besides donating blood. Once again, what a wonderful Idea Spirit Dancer, now if I can get the other 39 associates to swab away!

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by Blaze

Thank you Spirit Dancer for posting this thread. I went to work this morning. I talked with my CEO and she sent out a e-mail to everyone in our facility. I was so happy to see the response! We will be having a drive Tuesday. And at this very moment we have 64 people signed up to get there cheek swab, and yes, I had to explain to a few of our fellow employees that it's not the cheek that there originally thinking about
Finally our hospital has something to be excited about besides donating blood. Once again, what a wonderful Idea Spirit Dancer, now if I can get the other 39 associates to swab away!

Blaze
Thank you and your co workers, such a wonderful gift
you all are giving.
Wishing now there were more drives for Bone Marrow and Stem Cell
what a great idea you had.

[Spirit Dancer]

Link for Peripheral blood stem cell donation
http://www.stjude.org/SJFile/stem_ce...c_donation.pdf

One more important fact
Q: Who pays for the donation process?
A: Donors never pay for donating, and are never paid to donate.

All medical costs for the donation procedure are covered by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which operates the Be The Match Registry, or by the patient's medical insurance, as are travel expenses and other non-medical costs. The only costs to the donor might be time taken off from work.

[Spirit Dancer]

So we all know the facts from myth


Myths & Facts about Bone Marrow Donation
Learn the facts about bone marrow donation to help you make an informed decision about joining the Be The Match Registry®.

MYTH:
All bone marrow donations involve surgery.

FACT:
The majority of donations do not involve surgery. Today, the patient's doctor most often requests a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, which is non-surgical.

The second way of donating is marrow donation, which is a surgical procedure.

In each case, donors typically go home the same day they donate.

MYTH:
Donating is painful and involves a long recovery.

FACT:
There can be uncomfortable but short-lived side effects of donating PBSC. Due to taking a drug called filgrastim for five days leading up to donation, PBSC donors may have headaches, joint or muscle aches, or fatigue. PBSC donors are typically back to their normal routine in one to two days.

Those donating marrow receive general or regional anesthesia, so they feel no pain during donation. Marrow donors can expect to feel some soreness in their lower back for one to two weeks afterward. Most marrow donors are back to their normal activities in two to seven days.

MYTH:
Donating is dangerous and weakens the donor.

FACT:
Though no medical procedure is without risk, there are rarely any long-term side effects. Be The Match® carefully prescreens all donors to ensure they are healthy and the procedure is safe for them. We also provide support and information every step of the way.

Because only five percent or less of a donor's marrow is needed to save the patient's life, the donor's immune system stays strong and the cells replace themselves within four to six weeks.

MYTH:
In bone marrow donation, pieces of bone are removed from the donor.

FACT:
No pieces of bone are taken during marrow donation. Only the liquid marrow found inside the pelvic bone is needed to save the patient's life.
http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Myths_&_F...Don/index.html

[Spirit Dancer]

http://www.lightthenight.org/

[always2late]

Ten years ago, when I had my son, I had placental stem cells and cord blood harvested. If you, or anyone you know is pregnant, please encourage them to do so. Its a way to donate these much needed cells from something that usually just ends up in medical waste disposal.

http://stemcellumbilicalcordblood.com/

[sweetfemme247]

I just ordered my kit