Why Register to Donate Bone Marrow?

Every year, thousands of adults and children need bone marrow transplants -- a procedure which may be their only chance for survival. Although some patients with aplastic anemia, leukemia or other cancers have a genetically matched family member who can donate, about 70 percent do not. These patients' lives depend on finding an unrelated individual with a compatible tissue type -- often within their own ethnic group -- who is willing to donate marrow.

Since 1987, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has facilitated more than 7,000 unrelated marrow transplants. In the east central Illinois region, more than 3,500 volunteers have given blood samples to join NMDP's registry of potential donors.

There is a critical need for more volunteer donors. Many patients, especially people of color, cannot find a compatible donor among those on the registry. Patients and donors must have matching tissue types, and these matches are found most often between people of the same ethnic group. A large, ethnically diverse group of prospective donors will give more patients a chance for survival.

What is Bone Marrow?

Marrow is the tissue found inside bones that produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These vital blood cells fight infection, carry oxygen and help control bleeding. Any disease that attacks the bone marrow can eliminate the body's ability to protect itself.

Who Can Donate Marrow?

If you are in good health and between the ages of 18 and 60, you may be eligible to join the NMDP's registry, where patients seeking a compatible donor begin their search.

Steps to Joining the Registry:

• At Community Blood Services of Illinois, the Bone Marrow Donor Program registers volunteers who wish to join the registry. After completing a questionnaire, a small sample of blood is drawn and your inherited tissue type (HLA, or human leukocyte antigen type) is determined.
• The laboratory results are entered into the NMDP's registry, a computerized database of potential donors.
  
  
  

Steps to Donating Marrow:

• If you match the tissue type of a patient seeking a donor, additional testing will confirm the results. You will meet with marrow donor counselors at the Blood Center who will help you make an informed decision about donating marrow.
• The marrow collection process usually requires an overnight stay in the hospital. The procedure itself is painless, because it is performed under anesthesia. But, for an average of two weeks following the procedure, most donors experience sore hips and some must restrict their activities. Most donors also report that donating marrow is a very positive experience. Many marrow donors are willing to donate again in the future.
• The donated marrow is transfused to the patient, whose diseased cells have been destroyed by intensive chemotherapy. In time, the donated marrow engrafts and begins producing healthy blood cells.
  
  
  

Donating Peripheral Blood Stem Cells

The NMDP is now offering a different donation method. In some cases, donors will be asked to consider donating Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC) rather than marrow donation. When one donates bone marrow, they are giving stem cells. Stem cells create all of the different components that make our blood. Donated stem cells engraft inside the patient's bones and build a new blood production system.

Stem cells can also be collected from the circulating blood supply after the administration of a drug called Filgrafstim, via an apheresis procedure. PBSC donations are safe and, in many cases, offer the patient a better chance of survival than standard marrow transplantation. When a marrow donor has been identified, they will be given information about the two different ways to donate their stem cells - marrow and PBSC. Ultimately, the donor will decide how they will donate their stem cells.

Why are More People of Color Needed?

Because patients are most likely to find a compatible donor within their own ethnic group, a diverse group of potential donors is needed. Over 3 million volunteers have joined the national registry, but only a small percentage are people of color.

Percentage of ethnic groups on the national registry

Funding

When someone volunteers to join the national registry of potential donors, a blood sample is taken and is tissue-typed.  This test costs $35. Because funding is limited and the need to diversify the registry is so critical, the U.S. government pays the fee for non-Caucasians. Caucasian volunteers are asked to consider making a contribution to cover the cost of their testing. Free testing is available for Caucasians as long as the Blood Center has adequate funds.

Once a donor is found to match a patient, the donation is paid for by the NMDP and billed to the patient and transplant center.

How Can I Join the Registry?

If you live in east central Illinois and would like to join the registry, call  Community Blood Services of Illinois at 217-367-2202 or 800-217-GIVE.

If you live in another area of the United States, call the National Marrow Donor Program at 1-800-MARROW-2.