zoey9171's Cancer Blog
October 3, 2009
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to help spread the word about the Breast Cancer making Strides Walk October 10, at Belle Isle Park 8-10 am. Its a non-competitive 5-mile walk, good times to be had, great people to meet, support a great cause. I am walking for all of you on this site, and my mom… I miss her so much :( Hope everyone has a great weekend, GO STATE!
For anyone in Michigan this weekend!, 
5 comments)
August 31, 2009
So what is the process for being a donor for bone marrow? Some questions-
What are some of the risks, how do they extract it, the downtime healing, insurance, criteria, is there infection risks, do you have to travel out of state, can you do it more than once?
A lot of questions I know, can anyone who has donated answer some of my questions? Thanks
I googled it for you and this is the best answers I came about…...Hope this helps.
How do you donate bone marrow if you are a donor match?
Stem cells can be collected in one of two different ways. Traditionally, bone marrow has been the source of stem cells for donation. However, some donors may be asked to donate stem cells from the peripheral blood instead of the marrow. This decision lies with the transplant physician. It is not the choice of the donor.
When you donate marrow, it is removed with a surgical needle from the back of your pelvic bone. All marrow donors are given either general or regional anesthesia. Usually, four to eight tiny incisions are made in the pelvic area. These incisions are so small that stitches are not necessary. The procedure lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. Marrow is constantly regenerating itself and is replaced within several weeks.
For a donation of peripheral blood stem cells, the donor receives one injection of Filgrastim each day for four to five days. Filgrastim is a drug that increases the number of stem cells released from the bone marrow into the blood stream. The stem cells are collected from the blood stream through a process called aphaeresis. During aphaeresis, which is done at a blood center or a hospital, your blood is removed through a sterile needle placed in a vein in one arm and passed through an aphaeresis machine that separates out the stem cells. The remaining blood, minus the stem cells, is returned through a sterile needle placed in a vein in the other arm.
Does the donor have to travel?
The donor does not need to go to the patient’s location. The donation procedure is done locally to where the donor lives. Several days prior to the donation, the patient is typically treated with radiation and chemotherapy. This conditioning eradicates the patient’s diseased immune system, and the patient is kept in protective isolation to prevent infection. The donor’s stem cells are given intravenously to the recipient.
The stem cells migrate through the circulatory system to the hollow cavities of the bones. If all goes well, the stem cells engraft within a few weeks and begin to manufacture healthy blood cells, giving the patient a second chance at life!
Does it hurt? (see above chart)
The collection site will feel as though you had bruised yourself in the lower back. The procedure does not preclude you from going about your daily routine, and the soreness diminishes over time. Most people go back to work in a day or two.
Does it cost me anything?
The answer is no. The collection procedure is paid for by the patient or the patient’s insurance company. You are left with the knowledge that you helped to save a life.
Do my donated stem cells replenish themselves?
Yes. Stem cells or marrow regenerates within a few weeks. The donation does not curtail your daily activities. You can also donate again in the future if you wish. Marrow, unlike solid organs, is a gift of life that keeps on giving.
What are the risks?
Anesthesia is the risk most commonly associated with bone marrow donation. The procedure must be done using a local or general anesthetic. The risk is extremely minimal, and thousands of collections have been performed worldwide.
Posted on Interesting wow, thank you. Do you know anyone who has been a match, and went through the process?
Posted on I have done a lot of research on this since Brent had a Bone Marrow Transplant. At Karmanos their pheresis lab is on the BMT floor so I was able to watch people donate alot. Any ways they almost always take the stem cells pheriperially. Not many BMT programs still take it from the hip. There is research out there now that says it really does not matter how they collect them. Very interesting to watch. The transplant is hung like a bag of blood. It looks like tomato juice. Brent’s transplant infused in 11 minutes. The donor is ususally not responsible fo ranything. I know our insurance paid for everything for our donor.
A friend of mine at work her daughter donated a few years ago. She was back to work that day. The collection takes a few hours and there is only the pain of the needle pokes because you have an IV in each arm. I signed up a few months ago. I am still waiting for my registration card.
Stacy
Posted on So once you get your registration card you will go to one of the sites and be typed or tested? Whay about from the first response I received
“...Several days prior to the donation, the patient is typically treated with radiation and chemotherapy. This conditioning eradicates the patient’s diseased immune system, and the patient is kept in protective isolation to prevent infection”
They would mean the donar would have to take time off from work to be protected? Yikes, it is a lot of info and I am glad I am getting responses back from here instead of just searching the net. I figured if anyone would know it would be on here. Thanks very much! Brave thing you are doing, that’s great
I have decided to yes do it. i am just so suprised no one on this site has known a friend, family member, or anyone that has done it, blows my mind seriously?? especially all who have viewed it, over 100 times. oh well, i am going to do it though to all who helped out with my questions thank you
so thanks you all who helped answer my questions. i am yes going to get tested,and get on the donors list. i am just blowin away seriously that over 130 views and no one has know someone,friend,family,co worker who has already done this! especially on this website,wow. oh well,thanks for helping me with my questions the ones who responded,i was a little nervous. have a nice holiday weekend.
sorry for the repeats,send from i phone ..
dear Zoey, Im sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. I have lost both of my parents and know the emptiness it creates. I lost my husband a little over 5 weeks ago to aml. The loss of him has been unbearable. I found this site in hopes of findidng other people that have lost love ones to leukemia and might have also experienced a transplant. My husband under went a allogenic stem cell transplant 8 months to the day before he died. His older brother was his donor. His brother underwent a series of testing to ensure that he was of good health to donate. The testing consisted of chest x-rays, EKG and some blood work. He took the neupogen injections for 5 days prior to the day of collection. The collection procedure lasted about 4 hours from start to finish. He layed in bed and watched tv through the procedure. They place an IV in both arms one is used to removed the blood and the stem cell are separated in a aphresis machine and the blood is reinfused in the other arm minus the stem cells. Through out the procedure they are monitoring the donors vital signs and running lab. They replace any electrolytes that may need to be replaced. My brother-in-law needed calcium replacement was it. He returned to work the next day. He never complained of any side effects from the procedure. My husbands transplant was done at a research hospital in Dallas TX. His transplant wasn’t considered that though but he volunteered to allow his data to be used in any research that was needed. His comment was if anything can be learned from my case maybe it will help someone else. To know my husband that was him he would do anything to help anyone else that needed it. So I hope I have given the information that you wanted to know about the donation process. And feel free to ask anything that you want to know about the process and I will be glad to tell you our experience with the process. You have made a decision to give the gift of life and that is something very special. I admire you for that.
Posted on Thank you for sharing your story and information with me. Sorry about your loss, cancer sucks… The single worst word in the English language! lol
Check out Stacy’s blog, she has recently lost her husband to leukemia. She is under people who I support you will see her name, and just click on it! Hope it all works out,Thank you for your kind words.. good nite
Hi Z,
Got your note regarding the lock win…yea, the little things in life make the bad things bearable. I need to take time to post Rockos picture but time is so precious. He is cinnomen(sp?) and white with really bushy hair. He has the most beautiful face with one blue eye and one brown eye. I love your relay involvement. I row with the dragon boats when the doctor lets me. Peace, sharron
Posted on I went to sign up to donate but then foudn out I can nto as I had a kidney removed. But Hubby is interested but can not as he travels to many countries so they do nto want him…
Anyway it is great idea. I was saved from blood peopel donated. My hubby is at 2 gals donating but on hold for overseas things on that too.
BARB R
07.26.09 
Thanks for your support - 
Thank you for walking for all of us and especially with your mom in mind. Your a great example and a wonderful supporter
Glad you got the lock. They looked super cool. Take a photo if you get a chance. Thanks for posting this about the walk. There is a walk this weekend in Denver too. Considering going. Have a great weekend. xoxox, Jill
Awww, thanks ladies for the posts and taking your time out to leave my a nice message!
You GO, GIRL! Your mom would be so proud of you. Paul and I appreciate all your sweet comments. You will be in out thoughts during our vows renewal as well as your mom!
Lisa D
how did the walk go? i got a notice you posted a new comment, but its from october! ha. just wondered how you are doing and hoping just fine. i know you will always always miss your mom, but you are doing such amazing things in her honor and memory….wonderful.
love.annette