Bone Marrow Donor
Discussion
If you are not currently on the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register can I encourage you to please join if you are eligible.
http://www.anthonynolan.org/What-you-can-do/save-a...
I have just had some bad news from home. The youngest of the 3 brothers I used to babysit (he is now 21yrs - I feel very old!) unfortuantely has been told his leukemia has relapsed and now needs a bone marrow transplant. Unfortantely it seems he has a rare antigen in his blood meaning his bothers cannot be donors. Anothony Nolan have checked their international database and they have no matches.
His Mum is organising a big drive for donors where they live, but everyone who knows them is also trying encourage people. I have been on the register since I was in my teens (I had a friend at school need a bone marrow transplant), which I am pleased about as I am now too old to register. I am going to post this up at work as well since we have a few nippers there I may be able to persaude to join.
So if you are able to join please do - you may save someone's life.
Thanks.
http://www.anthonynolan.org/What-you-can-do/save-a...
I have just had some bad news from home. The youngest of the 3 brothers I used to babysit (he is now 21yrs - I feel very old!) unfortuantely has been told his leukemia has relapsed and now needs a bone marrow transplant. Unfortantely it seems he has a rare antigen in his blood meaning his bothers cannot be donors. Anothony Nolan have checked their international database and they have no matches.
His Mum is organising a big drive for donors where they live, but everyone who knows them is also trying encourage people. I have been on the register since I was in my teens (I had a friend at school need a bone marrow transplant), which I am pleased about as I am now too old to register. I am going to post this up at work as well since we have a few nippers there I may be able to persaude to join.
So if you are able to join please do - you may save someone's life.
Thanks.
K50 DEL said:
How old is too old?
OP's link says 16-30 but I signed up when 37,38 I can't remember exactly, it was a big event at the Tigers ground in Leicester for two local people, I'm fairly sure 40 was the cut off point but its the younger ones who are better donors.Blood donor here too, my only problem is getting a slot at a time I can attend, next one is in October.
I too am on the organ donor list and give blood but like a previous poster i have to admit i had never heard of this until now and i am also more than happy to donate a bit of giblets or fluids or whatever can be harvested to do others a bit of good when the worst that will happen to me is a short amount of discomfort and maybe a little pain for a very short time..... Nothing compared with leukemia etc. My very best wishes for the young chap hope he gets what he needs and fast . And secondly thank you O.P. for highlighting the shortage and making us aware. if nothing else theirs a few of signing up so i reckon you've done your bit in the balance of positive Karma. Way i see it is give now , you never know when you or loved ones will need a bag or three of claret or a person willing to give you a bit of marrow or a lung.
Oh Bugger... i just went straight to the site to sign up and read the age group... cant give due to being 45. anyone know why this is ? i'm reasonably healthy except a dodgy ankle, and a titanium plate and a few screws holding an arm together.. other than that i'm sure i must have a bit of fresh marrow somewhere in me, its one part of me ive never knowingly and willingly abused.
Thanks everyone!
Apparently the reason the Anthony Nolan have the age restriction is that the 16-30 age group offers the patients the best chance of success. I have just found out you can still register to to be a bone marrow donor if you are older by applying when you donate blood and you get added to the british register.
This is the local article about the guy I original posted for (he looks a bit different from when I babysat for him!!).
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/10631323.Can_yo...
I think everyone who donates blood or is on the organ donation register is great - who knows when either ourselves or one of our loved ones will need help.
Apparently the reason the Anthony Nolan have the age restriction is that the 16-30 age group offers the patients the best chance of success. I have just found out you can still register to to be a bone marrow donor if you are older by applying when you donate blood and you get added to the british register.
This is the local article about the guy I original posted for (he looks a bit different from when I babysat for him!!).
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/10631323.Can_yo...
I think everyone who donates blood or is on the organ donation register is great - who knows when either ourselves or one of our loved ones will need help.
AMLK said:
Apparently the reason the Anthony Nolan have the age restriction is that the 16-30 age group offers the patients the best chance of success. I have just found out you can still register to to be a bone marrow donor if you are older by applying when you donate blood and you get added to the british register.
You're right, the British Bone Marrow Registry will take people up to 49 years old. Nothing to stop people being on both 
It's a shame that Anthony Nolan have reduced the age range, but it is a charity with finite resources after all. I'll be running a marathon in Antarctica in a couple of months with a view to raising awareness of their work. I have a secret goal for the number of new registrants, but you're already ahead of me with this thread.
Hope your friend gets well, quickly
The old, unpleasant way was they sucked it out of your hip with a syringe, with you knocked out under general anaesthetic.
The new, more pleasant way is you have a few days of injections to increase the production of stem cells. Then you sit in a chair attached to a machine; one arm has its blood sucked out, the blood is passed through the machine and the stem cells are separated, then the blood is returned into your other arm. It takes a few hours.
The new, more pleasant way is you have a few days of injections to increase the production of stem cells. Then you sit in a chair attached to a machine; one arm has its blood sucked out, the blood is passed through the machine and the stem cells are separated, then the blood is returned into your other arm. It takes a few hours.
bigandclever said:
The old, unpleasant way was they sucked it out of your hip with a syringe, with you knocked out under general anaesthetic.
The new, more pleasant way is you have a few days of injections to increase the production of stem cells. Then you sit in a chair attached to a machine; one arm has its blood sucked out, the blood is passed through the machine and the stem cells are separated, then the blood is returned into your other arm. It takes a few hours.
Wow!, very clever. Thanks.The new, more pleasant way is you have a few days of injections to increase the production of stem cells. Then you sit in a chair attached to a machine; one arm has its blood sucked out, the blood is passed through the machine and the stem cells are separated, then the blood is returned into your other arm. It takes a few hours.
AMLK said:
Unfortantely it seems he has a rare antigen in his blood meaning his bothers cannot be donors. Anthony Nolan have checked their international database and they have no matches.
That really struck a chord with me. Pending them reviewing my application my spit kit is in the post.
bigandclever said:
The old, unpleasant way was they sucked it out of your hip with a syringe, with you knocked out under general anaesthetic.
The new, more pleasant way is you have a few days of injections to increase the production of stem cells. Then you sit in a chair attached to a machine; one arm has its blood sucked out, the blood is passed through the machine and the stem cells are separated, then the blood is returned into your other arm. It takes a few hours.
They still do both ways.....The new, more pleasant way is you have a few days of injections to increase the production of stem cells. Then you sit in a chair attached to a machine; one arm has its blood sucked out, the blood is passed through the machine and the stem cells are separated, then the blood is returned into your other arm. It takes a few hours.
Anthony Nolan site said:
What does a bone marrow harvest involve?
A bone marrow donation under this method requires a two-night stay in hospital. Under general anaesthetic, the cells are extracted from the pelvic bones by sterile needle and syringe. No surgical incision is required and the blood stem cells replace themselves within 21 days.
What does peripheral blood stem cell donation involve?
To collect blood stem cells from the peripheral blood, the cells have to be encouraged to move from the bone marrow where they are made, out into the circulating blood stream. During the five days before the collection the donor receives daily injections to mobilise the blood stem cells, increasing their number in the peripheral blood. These cells can then be collected on a cell separator machine in one or two collections lasting four to five hours each, in a process known as 'apheresis'. You won't need to stay in hospital and you won't need general or spinal anaesthesia.
Personally I think either way is a very small price to pay if it helps just one more person have a better life.A bone marrow donation under this method requires a two-night stay in hospital. Under general anaesthetic, the cells are extracted from the pelvic bones by sterile needle and syringe. No surgical incision is required and the blood stem cells replace themselves within 21 days.
What does peripheral blood stem cell donation involve?
To collect blood stem cells from the peripheral blood, the cells have to be encouraged to move from the bone marrow where they are made, out into the circulating blood stream. During the five days before the collection the donor receives daily injections to mobilise the blood stem cells, increasing their number in the peripheral blood. These cells can then be collected on a cell separator machine in one or two collections lasting four to five hours each, in a process known as 'apheresis'. You won't need to stay in hospital and you won't need general or spinal anaesthesia.
Williams99 said:
AMLK said:
Unfortantely it seems he has a rare antigen in his blood meaning his bothers cannot be donors. Anthony Nolan have checked their international database and they have no matches.
That really struck a chord with me. Pending them reviewing my application my spit kit is in the post.
Have applied and spit kit is in the post.
If I can help I will.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff