How much bone marrow is taken for donation

Some doctors will make several small incisions through the skin on your lower back no stitches should be needed. Others will simply insert a needle into the skin without making incisions.

So, for example, if you are 65 kg approximately mL may be taken. Your body will replenish the donated bone marrow within about four weeks. Following the collection, the stem cells will be filtered to remove any unwanted particles and then mixed with an anti-clotting agent. The actual transplant is given intravenously to the patient, just like a blood transfusion. After the procedure, and once the anaesthetic wears off, you may feel somewhat stiff and sore in the lower back region for a few days.

Pain medication such as paracetamol eg Panadol is usually sufficient to relieve the discomfort. There may be some colourful bruising at the back of the hips in the week after the donation. Most donors recover well and are back in their normal routine within several days.

Some individuals may take two to three weeks before they feel completely recovered. Donors may also receive a transfusion of their own previously donated blood to assist with iron replacement.

On discharge from hospital we recommend that you have a companion drive you home or take a taxi. If you are from the country you may be asked to stay in the vicinity overnight. Following your donation, we will keep in touch with you and see how you are.

We will check on you at least weekly until you can resume your normal activities. Around three months after your donation, we will ask you to see your GP and have some tests done to make sure you have fully recovered. If you are a blood donor, you should be deferred from blood donation for six months after bone marrow donation and three months after PBSC donation. This means that no patient other than the one you donated to can match with you in this time.

The patient you donated to may still need additional cell products from you, depending on how their transplant progresses. At the end of the two years, you will automatically be re-activated for all patients, unless of course you decide otherwise.

For some, a bone marrow transplant may be their only treatment option. Not to worry. People between 18 and 44 tend to produce more and higher quality cells than older individuals. Doctors choose donors in the 18 to 44 age group more than 95 percent of the time, according to Be The Match, a national marrow donor program.

With other conditions, your eligibility is decided on a case-by-case basis. This is obtained by swabbing the inside of your cheek. You must also sign a consent form. 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. The most serious risks have to do with anesthesia. General anesthesia is usually safe, and most people come through without problems.

People who fall into those categories may have an increased risk for:. About 2. Your body will replace it within six weeks. You might also feel fatigued for a few weeks. That should resolve as your body replaces the marrow.

Most donors can go home the same day, but some need to stay overnight. Recovery time varies from person to person. You might be able to resume your usual activities within a few days. It could also take up to a month to feel like your old self. Be sure to follow your hospital discharge instructions. According to Be The Match , some donors find it more painful than they thought it would be.

But others find it less painful than they expected. Your doctor might prescribe a pain reliever when you leave the hospital. You can also try over-the-counter medication. If they do, contact your doctor. In theory, you can donate many times since your body can replace lost bone marrow. Finding multiple potential matches is rare. The odds of one unrelated match are between 1 in and 1 in a million , according to the Asian American Donor Program. Visit BeTheMatch. The amount collected can range from 0.

This is calculated based on the height and weight of the donor and patient. There are some risks associated with anesthesia. These risks vary according to the type of prescribed anesthesia. Infection at the site of the bone marrow collection is very rare and can be treated with antibiotics. Nerve, bone or other tissue damage is also very rare and may require additional medical treatment.

Bone marrow donors can expect to experience fatigue after donating. Some donors have described it as a feeling of soreness and bruising where the needle was inserted —like the soreness that comes from a hard workout or a fall on ice.

Donors may also experience discomfort from the breathing tube used during the procedure. These side effects usually last for a few days, though some people may experience them for several weeks. Many bone marrow donors are released from the hospital the same day they undergo the collection procedure. Most need to take several days off work and avoid strenuous activity for at least two to three weeks, which is approximately how long it takes the body to replace the donated bone marrow.

Listed below are some of the most commonly dispelled myths about blood stem cell donation. Read the FAQs. If you still have questions, please call 1 2 DONATE to speak with one of our healthcare professionals.

For a bone marrow donation, stem cells are taken from the iliac crest which sits at the back of the pelvic bone. Fact: Some donations involve surgery and others do not. Registered stem cell donors may be asked to donate stem cells from their peripheral blood or bone marrow. Bone marrow donation is a day surgical procedure done in an operating room. Peripheral blood stem cell donation is a non-surgical procedure done in an outpatient clinic.

Expectant mothers may also consent to donate their umbilical cord blood, rich in lifesaving stem cells, after the safe delivery of their baby. Learn more about donating cord blood. Fact: For bone marrow donation, the collection of stem cells is taken from the iliac crest and is done using general anesthetic so the donor does not experience pain during the donation procedure.

Donors have described having a mild-moderate soreness, bruising and aching at lower back are for a few days to several weeks after their donation. For peripheral blood stem cell donation, only the stem cells are separated and collected during donation through a non-surgical procedure called apheresis. This is done in an outpatient clinic and takes approximately four-six hours. We do not interfere with the normal process of labour or delivery. Fact: The recovery period for bone marrow donation varies from donor to donor.

Most donors experience fatigue, soreness at the donation site, bruising and lower back pain for a few days to several weeks. Donors may also experience discomfort when walking, standing or sitting.

Some donors have reported difficulty climbing stairs for a week or two after their donation.