what happens if you donate bone marrow

by Dr. Gerry Bauch 7 min read

Donated bone marrow helps doctors treat severe diseases like leukemia or lymphoma. Bone marrow cells can help people fight tumors and even save their lives. But even if you’re MS is being treated you still can’t donate bone marrow or stem cells. They might contain cells that could hurt the person who gets them.

Donors may experience headaches or bone and muscle pain, similar to a cold or the flu, for several days before collection. These are side effects of the filgrastim injections that disappear shortly after donation. Other common side effects are nausea, trouble sleeping and tiredness.

Full Answer

What are the side effects of donating bone marrow?

Donation: During the marrow donation, you will be lying on your stomach. While the donation varies slightly from hospital to hospital, generally, the doctors use special, hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow (where blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of …

What is painful about donating bone marrow?

Jan 09, 2017 · Side effects may be headaches or bone or muscle aches prior to donation due to the injections. After a marrow donation common side effects such as back or hip pain, fatigue, throat or muscle pain resolve within a week but can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Be the Match will also follow up after you’ve donated. Loma Linda University …

What is the average life expectancy after bone marrow transplant?

Nov 03, 2019 · What Happens To The Person Who Donates Bone Marrow? Common unintended effects of marrow donation reported 2 days after donation: Back or hip ache 84%, Fatigue 61%, Throat ache 32%, Muscle ache 24%, Insomnia 15%, Headache 14%, Dizziness 10%, Loss of urge for food 10%, Nausea 9%.

What are the risks of bone marrow donation?

The risks of this type of stem cell donation are minimal. Before the donation, you’ll get injections of a medicine that increases the number of stem cells in your blood. This medicine can cause side effects, such as bone pain, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

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What are the risks of donating bone marrow?

The risks of this type of stem cell donation are minimal. Before the donation, you'll get injections of a medicine that increases the number of stem cells in your blood. This medicine can cause side effects, such as bone pain, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.May 30, 2020

Does bone marrow grow back?

After donation, bone marrow replaces itself within four to six weeks. To be a bone marrow donor in America, a person should be between 18 and 60 years old and in good health.

How many times can you be a bone marrow donor?

Q: How many times can I donate? A: Because your marrow and blood stem cells completely regenerate, you can technically donate several times in your life. It is rare to come up as a match for several people. You may never get called as a potential match or you might get called once or twice in your lifetime.

What disqualifies you from being a bone marrow donor?

Chronic neck, back, hip, or spine pain. Common back problems such as sprains, strains and aches may not interfere with a bone marrow donation. However, you are not able to join if you have on-going, chronic, significant pain areas of the neck, back, hip, or spine that: Interferes with your daily activities AND.

How painful is donating bone marrow?

Some donors said the experience was more painful than they expected; others said it was less painful. Some donors describe the pain as similar to achy hip bones or falling on their buttocks. Others say it feels more like a strained muscle in the back. The ache may last a few days to several weeks.

How painful is bone marrow extraction?

With local anesthesia, bone marrow aspiration, in particular, can cause brief, but sharp, pain. Many people choose to also have light sedation for additional pain relief. If you're anxious about pain, you may be given an IV medication so that you're either completely or partially sedated during the bone marrow exam.Jan 6, 2021

How much do you have to weigh to donate bone marrow?

There is not a minimum weight requirement. However, there are maximum BMI guidelines for donating marrow. These guidelines have been established to help ensure your safety as a donor. If you are called to donate, you will complete a health screening and physical exam before moving forward with donation.

Can you live a normal life after a bone marrow transplant?

Some 62% of BMT patients survived at least 365 days, and of those surviving 365 days, 89% survived at least another 365 days. Of the patients who survived 6 years post-BMT, 98.5% survived at least another year.

Can a child donate bone marrow to a parent?

There is both parental consent and patient assent. “Fundamentally,” the authors noted, “the ethical permissibility of using a child as a bone-marrow donor turns on whether and how her personhood is valued and respected.” The AMA Code of Medical Ethics is AMA policy.Feb 4, 2019

How do I prepare for bone marrow donation?

These steps ensure that donation is safe for you and the patient.Update your health information. You will be asked to confirm your commitment to donate, and complete a thorough health questionnaire.Participate in an information session. ... Sign a consent form. ... Undergo a physical exam. ... Give blood samples. ... Donate.

Is be the match Real?

​ Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research through its research program, CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®), so more lives can be saved ...

How do they test to see if your a bone marrow match?

To see if you are a potential bone marrow match, you will be tested to find out what type of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) you have. HLA is a protein found on most cells in your body — including those in your immune system. The closer the HLA match, the better chance that a bone marrow transplant will succeed.

Is bone marrow harvesting painful?

This procedure isn't painful and is done while you're awake. It takes around 3 hours and may need to be repeated the next day if not enough cells are removed the first time.

Can you live a normal life after a bone marrow transplant?

Some 62% of BMT patients survived at least 365 days, and of those surviving 365 days, 89% survived at least another 365 days. Of the patients who survived 6 years post-BMT, 98.5% survived at least another year.

Does donating bone marrow shorten your life?

The amount of marrow donated will not weaken your own body or immune system. The average amount of marrow and blood donated is about one quart, less if the patient is a baby or child.

What disqualifies you from being a bone marrow donor?

Chronic neck, back, hip, or spine pain. Common back problems such as sprains, strains and aches may not interfere with a bone marrow donation. However, you are not able to join if you have on-going, chronic, significant pain areas of the neck, back, hip, or spine that: Interferes with your daily activities AND.

Why is bone marrow transplant painful?

During the procedure, the patient does not have much pain. A small incision is made, through which a wide bore needle is inserted into the bone marrow and stem cells are collected in syringes. The donor may experience pain after the anesthesia wears off. Painkillers may be needed for next few days.

Does your DNA change after a bone marrow transplant?

Our blood cells need to be replaced constantly (this is why a blood transfusion only temporarily changes the DNA profile of our blood). What this means in a bone marrow transplant patient is that his or her blood comes from the donor's stem cells. And so has the donor's DNA.Feb 9, 2007

Is bone marrow transplant worth it?

Bone marrow transplants can be lifesaving for people with conditions such as lymphoma or leukemia, or when intensive cancer treatment has damaged blood cells. This type of transplant can be an intensive procedure, and recovery can take a long time.Nov 14, 2019

What is bone marrow donation?

Bone marrow donation is one of two methods of collecting blood forming cells for bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure that takes place in a hospital operating room. Doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow (where the body’s blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of the back of your pelvic bone.

Why is bone marrow donation important?

Bone marrow donation is an important commitment to help save a life. Understanding the process, recovery and side effects can help you decide if donating is right for you.

What is bone marrow donation?

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.

Where are blood stem cells found?

The same blood-forming cells (sometimes called blood stem cells) that can be donated from the bone marrow are also found in the circulating (peripheral) blood. Before donation, a donor takes injections of a drug called filgrastim to move more blood-forming cells out of the marrow and into the bloodstream.

What is the NMDP?

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which operates the Be The Match Registry, is studying PBSC donations and transplants under a clinical research study reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What are the side effects of filgrastim injections?

These are side effects of the filgrastim injections that disappear shortly after donation. Other common side effects are nausea, trouble sleeping and tiredness.

How long does filgrastim take to work?

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.

Where to give a syringe injection?

The injections on days two through four may be given at your place of work, your home, at the donor center or a medical clinic.

Do you pay for donating blood?

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.

What are the side effects of bone marrow donation?

After a marrow donation common side effects such as back or hip pain, fatigue, throat or muscle pain resolve within a week but can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication.

How long does it take to donate blood?

A peripheral blood donation involves five days of injections that are done at home prior to donation. Your donation may take up to eight hours in one day.

How long does it take to donate bone marrow?

The total time commitment for the donation process is estimated to be 20 to 30 hours over four to six weeks, not including any travel time.

What is bone marrow transplant?

A bone marrow transplant is a type of stem cell transplant in which the stem cells are collected (harvested) from bone marrow. After being removed from the donor, they’re transplanted into the recipient.

What are the side effects of anesthesia?

Some potential side effects from general anesthesia are: sore throat due to the breathing tube. mild nausea. vomiting. Regional anesthesia can cause headache and a temporary drop in blood pressure. Some side effects of marrow donation include: bruising at the incision site.

How long does it take to set up a donation account?

You can set up an account, which includes a brief history of your health and contact information. It should take about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can call them at 800-MARROW2 (800-627-7692). The organization can provide details about the donation process and let you know what to do next.

How old do you have to be to be a donor?

A screening process will help ensure that you’re healthy enough and that the procedure will be safe for you and the recipient. Anyone between 18 and 60 years old can register to be a donor. People between 18 and 44 tend to produce more and higher quality cells than older individuals.

Is it safe to have anesthesia?

The most serious risks have to do with anesthesia. General anesthesia is usually safe, and most people come through without problems. But some people have a bad reaction to it, particularly when there’s a serious underlying condition or the procedure is extensive.

Can you be awake during a syringe surgery?

Alternatively, they can use regional anesthesia. You’ll be awake, but you won’t feel anything.

How to donate bone marrow?

If you agree to donate bone marrow, you’ll likely do what’s called a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. Here’s how it works: 1 For 5 days leading up to the donation, you’ll get a daily 5-minute injection of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), a white blood cell growth hormone. 2 On day 5, a trained health care provider will place a needle in each of your arms. One needle will remove blood, and a machine circulates the blood and collects the stem cells. Your blood then is returned to your body through the second needle. The process takes about 3 hours and may be repeated on a second donation day. Side effects include headaches, bone soreness, and discomfort from the needles during the process.

What is bone marrow transplant?

A bone marrow transplant replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy tissue, usually stem cells found in the blood. That’s why bone marrow transplants are also called stem cell transplants. In an allogeneic transplantation (ALLO transplant), blood stem cells from the bone marrow are transplanted from a donor into the patient.

What is GVHD in transplant?

GVHD is when immune cells in the transplanted tissue recognize the recipient’s body as “foreign” and attack it. Only about 30% of people who need a transplant can find an HLA-matched donor in their immediate family. For the remaining 70% of people, doctors need to find HLA-matched bone marrow from other donors.

Can bone marrow be used for cancer?

But for people with bone marrow disease, including several types of cancer, the process doesn’t work properly. Often, a bone marrow transplant is a person’s best chance of survival and a possible cure. The good news is that donating bone marrow can be as easy and painless as giving blood.

How long does it take to get a bone marrow transplant?

It usually takes 1 or 2 hours. You can go home once you wake up and your doctor says it’s OK. If you’re donating bone marrow, being put to sleep for the surgery may cause complications. You might feel tired or weak for a few days after.

How long does it take for a stem cell to come back?

Then they’ll run it through a machine to take out the stem cells (apheresis) and put what’s left back into your body. This usually takes 1 to 2 hours. You’ll likely do this two to four times. The exact number depends on how many stem cells are needed.

What is stem cell transplant?

A stem cell transplant is when doctors take some of your blood-forming cells to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow for yourself or someone else whose marrow doesn’t make enough of them. The stem cells can be taken from your blood or transplanted from your bone marrow. That’s why a stem cell transplant is also called a bone marrow ...

Can you donate blood to someone else?

If you donate to someone else, you may have to pay some of the costs of screening. The person who gets your blood cells or their health insurance will pay for the actual procedure. Under federal law, you can’t be paid for donating bone marrow or blood stem cells. In some states, your employer must give you time off from work to make the donation. ...

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The Potential Risks

  • Risks related to donating bone marrow are mostly related to the risk of the surgical procedure. Anytime you have surgery, there are the risks of general anesthesiaas well as the risk of bleeding and infection. There is also the risk that the procedure could cause injury to nerves and blood v
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Mild Side effects/risks

  • After donating bone marrow you may be sore in the region of your hip for a week or slightly more. Among those who donated bone marrow as part of the National Marrow Donor Program, the majority of people experienced some back and hip pain for a few days, as well as fatigue. Side effects of anesthesia may also include a sore throat and nausea. The procedure may be done a…
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Severe Side effects/risks

  • According to the National Marrow Donor Program, 2.4% of people who donate bone marrow experience a serious complication. Very few bone marrow donors suffer any long-term complications from their donation. Around the world, researchers looked at over 27,000 people who had donated bone marrow in 35 countries. Of these people, there was one death and 12 ser…
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Can You Meet The recipient?

  • If you are donating for an anonymous recipient, you may be wondering if you will have the chance to meet the person whose life you may have saved. Most agencies have fairly strict regulations about patient-donor contact, but you may wish to check out heartwarming stories of patients and donors meeting.
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The Benefits

  • When considering any issue, it's important to weigh the risks against the benefits. The risks of bone marrow donation are small, but the benefits to those who may receive your donation can be priceless. That said, donating bone marrow is not for everyone, and it's important that you honor yourself in whatever choice you make. Only you can make the decision that is right for you.
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