Everything You Need to Know About Bone Marrow Donation Myths

Bone Marrow

Some think surgery is the only way to give blood stem cells. More than 85% of the donations are stem cells from peripheral blood, which do not need surgery.

The most common way to give blood without surgery is through PBSC donation. You will get filgrastim injections for five days before you donate. This will increase the number of transplantable cells in your blood. Then, a needle takes some of your blood from one arm and runs it through a machine that separates the blood-making cells. The blood that is left over is sent back through the other arm. The leukemia donor registry process has several steps when someone is willing to donate his bone marrow.

Myth 1. It hurts a lot to give

Fact 1. Donating does not hurt as much as you might think.

Contrary to what most people think, giving blood stem cells is not painful.

Blood stem cell donations, especially bone marrow donations, are much less dramatic in real life than on TV and in movies.

Pain caused by recovery is different for each person. A few days or weeks later, you might have back pain, feel tired, get a headache, or get bruises.

Most donors think saving a life is worth it and would do it again if they could. If you want to donate bone marrow and know how and where to do it, just get some information regarding the leukemia donor registry process.

Myth 2: Giving money is dangerous

Fact 2. There are not many risks involved in donating.

Many people think that giving blood stem cells is dangerous. In reality, there are not many risks involved in giving blood stem cells.

To save lives, we must ensure our donors are safe and keep the public’s trust.

All donors are checked out first to make sure they are healthy, and the process is safe.

Donating PBSC or bone marrow usually does not have any long-term harmful effects. The donor’s immune system stays healthy, and their blood stem cells grow back in four to six weeks.

Even though every medical procedure has risks, every effort is made to make sure the donor is safe and healthy.

Your immune system stays healthy because less than 1 to 5 percent of your bone marrow is needed to keep a patient alive.

Myth 3: Donating takes a long time

Fact 3. It does not take long to help someone stay alive.

Donating indeed takes a short time!

It takes several minutes to sign up online. It does not take long to fill out and return a cheek swab kit.

If you are asked to give, the process usually takes between 20 and 30 hours, spread out over four to six weeks. This includes meetings, phone calls, and contributions.

Myth 4: Donating is expensive, and you need health insurance 

Fact 4. Donating is accessible for the person giving. For example, a person donating bone marrow is paying nothing for it.

Many people think that helping a patient in need is too expensive for them, but Be The Match pays for all costs related to donations!

Be the Match pays donors and one guest to travel, stay, and eat.

Be The Match, or the patient’s health insurance, pays for all medical costs related to the donation.

Myth 5: Bone marrow and blood stem cells can only be given by men

Fact 5. Anyone who meets the medical requirements and is between 18 and 40 can give blood. There are rules to protect both the donor’s and the patient’s health.

Conclusion

Some things, like pregnancy, would not stop someone from getting on the register. But if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you can not donate until you fully recover from the birth. Taking bone marrow or cells that make blood during pregnancy is never okay.

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