Just putting this out there as they need donors and telling people it hurts for months doesn't help. I donated a couple of years ago. 2 quick injections a day for 4 days, then the rest of the process is basically the same as a regular blood donation but longer (takes 3-4 hours and blood is cycled thru a centrifuge and back into your arm)
Just putting this out there as they need donors and telling people it hurts for months doesn't help. I donated a couple of years ago. 2 quick injections a day for 4 days, then the rest of the process is basically the same as a regular blood donation but longer (takes 3-4 hours and blood is cycled thru a centrifuge and back into your arm)
Umm... shoving something into your bones to suck out bone marrow didn't hurt?
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"How are bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation different?
Donating bone marrow is a surgical procedure done under general or regional anesthesia in a hospital. While a donor receives anesthesia, doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the pelvic bone.
PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure done in an outpatient clinic. PBSC donors receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim for five days, to increase the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream. Then, through a process called apheresis, a donor's blood is removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm."
Standard process these days is to harvest from the bloodstream. It's very rare to do the needle into the bone, although it can be used as a last resort.
If anyone registers as a donor, and they match, they can expect the more modern treatment, this has been the standard for many years now.
Standard process these days is to harvest from the bloodstream. It's very rare to do the needle into the bone, although it can be used as a last resort.
If anyone registers as a donor, and they match, they can expect the more modern treatment, this has been the standard for many years now. Your Reply:
Umm, you're full of it. Did you even look at my link?
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Before you agree to donate, they spend a couple of hours running through the process and options. As well as the ABMR consultant, you also meet another donor and ask any questions you might have. During this process, they mention that a bone marrow procedure could be required if you can't produce enough stem cells to be harvested from your blood, but it's a last resort and not the normal process.
You should give your local bone marrow registry a call and get the facts. Misinformation scares off a lot of people for what is a vital service.
Before you agree to donate, they spend a couple of hours running through the process and options. As well as the ABMR consultant, you also meet another donor and ask any questions you might have. During this process, they mention that a bone marrow procedure could be required if you can't produce enough stem cells to be harvested from your blood, but it's a last resort and not the normal process.
You should give your local bone marrow registry a call and get the facts. Misinformation scares off a lot of people for what is a vital service.
Bone Marrow transplants hurt, PBSC donations are relatively painless. There is a difference. Sure you could say you'll only donate PBSCs but would you refuse to give actual bone marrow if someone's life was counting on it?
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Thanks for this information. I had always heard that it hurt...but then again I'm old and the last time I heard about it was probably before this newish harvesting procedure you're talking about :)