Important Things to Know Before You register for Stem Cell Donation

For patients of blood cancer or blood disorder, a stranger donating stem cells uplifts their survival chances. People typically volunteer for donating stem cells for an allogeneic transplants either because they’ve got a friend or a loved one who is in need of a match or because they’re willing to help people. Some people donate stem cells so they’re able to later get them back if they require an autologous transplant.

What to expect while donating stem cells for strangers?

Medical guidelines have been in place for the protection of potential donor health, along with bone marrow health and patients of stem cell transplantation. There are various factors that can affect someone’s eligibility to register for stem cell donation.

People, including the cancer survivors, who’re willing to join volunteer registry or make stem cell donation can look for their eligibility on the registry. Also they can contract National Marrow Donor Program or get in touch with a health care expert for finding nearest donation center.

Potential donors will be asked some questions for ensuring whether they’re healthy for donating and whether they don’t pose infection risk to recipient. To get more donor eligibility information, and guidelines, for being the match you can look out for the area’s donor center.

A simple blood test takes place for learning about HLA type of the potential donor. You can be charged one-time, tax-deductible fee of around $75 – $100 for the blood test. People joining the volunteer donor registry most likely have got their tissue type kept on file until they’re of age 60.

Prior to Donation: Consent along with further testing

When the possible stem cell donor comes as a good recipient match, some measures are taken for teaching donor about process of transplantation and for ensuring whether the donor is going for a sound decision.

When someone wants to donate stem cells, a consent form should be signed after donating risks get discussed fully. The donor isn’t pressured for taking part. As this is always left to choice!

When someone decides about donating, the blood tests and medical exam gets done for ensuring that the donor is in great health.

How the stem cells are collected

After you register for stem cell donation, stem cells are collected with 3 different procedures:

  • Bone Marrow: Also known as bone marrow harvest, here the marrow cells are collected from pelvic bone. Donor lies with face down with large needle through skin into back of hip bone. It is pursed through bone to center and thick, liquid marrow gets pulled through needle. It gets repeated various times until enough marrow is harvested.
  • Peripheral Stem Cells: Prior to donation process for stem cells, donor is provided with daily shot of drug causing the bone marrow to create stem cells inside blood. After these shots, the blood gets taken out with a medicine separating stem cells from other blood cells.
  • Collection of Umbilical cord blood: Cord blood is left in the placenta and umbilical cord after the baby gets born. The collection doesn’t pose health risk for mother or the infant. Cord blood also transplants use of blood that can otherwise get thrown. After the umbilical cord gets cut and clamped, the umbilical cord and placenta are cleaned. Cord blood gets put into a sterile container with mixed preservatives and is frozen until required.

All know side effects along with risks for donation are explained in a detailed information session completed through a registered nurse, along with the physician who oversees donation. When you’re selected for the match for the patient and proceed with a donation, it is vital to have a list of questions that you’ve got. This is to ensure that you become comfortable with answers after meeting with different professionals of health care.

Gift of Life Marrow Registry Also Offers Following Services :

Blood Cancer Donor

How To Do A Bone Marrow Drive

Bone Marrow Match

Contact US:

Gift of Life Marrow Registry
Address:  800 Yamato Rd suite 101  Boca Raton, FL
Phone: (800) 962-7769

Understanding More about Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure

Our bone marrow has an important and significant role to play. It aids the production of healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and hemoglobin. There are many people who suffer from bone marrow disorders. This leads to the disruption of normal production of blood cells in the body. This could lead to a number of problems including anemia, reduced capacity of the body in fighting off and protecting against infections, inability of the body to help blood clotting in case of injuries due to insufficient platelets and other such problems. When medications and other forms of treatment cannot solve the problem, bone marrow transplantation could be the only option. We will try to understand more about bone marrow transplant procedure so that our readers are able to get some basic ideas about it.

 

Types of Bone Marrow Transplants

 

Bone marrow transplants are classified into two major categories. They are autologous transplants and allogeneic transplants.

 

Autologous transplants are about using the own cell of a person. This form of transplant requires harvesting of the cells before various medical processes like chemotherapy or radiation. These processes often damage and kill healthy cells and therefore bone marrow transplant procedure could help in reducing the complications associated with radiation and chemotherapy. GVHD or Graft Versus Host Disease is a common risk associated with any type of bone transplant including autologous transplants.

 

Allogeneic transplants on the other hand involve the use of bone marrow cells from a donor. The donor must have a close genetic match. Compatible relatives is the best option, though matching bone marrow cells can also be found from many donor registries. This form of bone marrow transplant procedure is followed when the bone marrow has stopped functioning or is not functioning properly. Here also there is a risk of GVHD and other problems.

 

How to Prepare for Bone Marrow Transplants

 

The whole process of bone marrow transplants may take around a week. Adequate preparation must be made and the family members must be available close to the patient. The patient should also ensure that the insurance related matters are updated and if there are pets and children they also must be adequately taken care of.

 

When the actual transplantation happens, the immunity system of the body will be compromised. Therefore, the patients are made to stay in a special section of hospitals that are reserved for people who are receiving bone marrow transplants. This reduces the risk of infection quite significantly. Leukapheresis is the most commonly used method of bone marrow transplant. During this procedure, the donor is giving some intravenous medication. This medication helps the stem cells to move from the bone marrow to the blood cells. Blood is then drawn out from the donor through an intravenous procedure. The machine that does the job also has the capability of separating white blood cells from others.

 

The recipient will have a needle implanted on the upper right side of the heart. This needle is called a CVC or central venous catheter. The fluid that contains the new stem cells flow into the heart directly after which they disperse to various parts of the body. They find their new home in the bone marrow cells where they begin to grow.

 

The Final Word

 

Though bone marrow transplantation is a complicated process, it might become necessary and unavoidable in many situations. The success rates are quite good though risks of infections and rejections are very much there.

 

Gift of Life Marrow Registry Also Offers Following Services :

Bone Marrow Transplant

Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant

Blood Cancer Bone Marrow Transplant

Contact US:

Gift of Life Marrow Registry
Address:  800 Yamato Rd suite 101  Boca Raton, FL
Phone: (800) 962-7769

Want To Become A Stem Cell Donor? Here Are Some Of The Important Things To Know

People suffering from diseases like lymphoma, myeloma or leukemia may need a bone marrow transplant for betterment and health progress. This can be done only when there is a stem cell donor willing to give their bone marrow to be transplanted. But there are different and most important things to consider in this process. First of all, the bone marrow will be successfully transplanted only if the stem cells of donor and the recipient match with each other. Moreover, to be a donor, there are many dos and don’ts that you have to keep in mind.

Things to know before becoming a stem cell donor

  1. Part match may donate

Sometimes your cells cannot match completely but it can have a 50% match. In some cases, you can still be able to donate the stem cells or the bone marrow to your relative. This is often known as the haploidentical transplant. But if you don’t match, you will not be able to donate.

  1. Age criteria

Anyone who is aged between 18 and 50 or 55 with good health can become a potential stem cell donor. All you have to do is to register for the donation and you will go through several checkups and tests to finally confirm whether or not you can donate.

  1. No underlying diseases

Sometimes a persona can think that they are healthy but there can be some underlying diseases. These can be cancer, diabetes and many more diseases which are not allowed for the stem cell donor donor match. If you have any of these diseases or you may have had some diseases before, then doctors may not take your donation request.

  1. Underweight or obesity not allowed

If the donor is underweight or overweight i.e. obese, then the doctors or the registry council can exclude you from becoming a potential stem cell donor. If your BMI i.e. body mass index is more than 40, then the doctors consider it as obese and you may not be able to donate the blood stem cells to the patient.

  1. Nervous or mental illness

The eligibility of the stem cell donor also depends on the severity of the anxiety or depression. First of all, a potential donor has to be physically fit and healthy. But if they are mentally unstable or have any illness, then it cannot be considered. Often the drugs taken due to nervous illness or mental illness can drop the blood count. In such cases, taken stem cells from them can be a risky job.

Final Words

These are some of the most important things that you have to consider when you are thinking about becoming a stem cell donor. You can register your name or any of the potential donors in one of the registries. Make sure to a little bit of research on the different types of registries available. This will help you to know which one is the best and most reliable. Then you can proceed with the rest of the formalities for being a donor.

Gift of Life Also Offers Following Services :

Bone Marrow Cheek Swab

Leukemia Marrow Transplant

Contact US:

Gift of Life Marrow Registry
Address:  800 Yamato Rd suite 101  Boca Raton, FL
Phone: (800) 962-7769