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Myths and facts about bone marrow
/ stem cell donation
Learn the facts about bone marrow stem cell
donation
to help you make an informed decision.
The following are myths. Take a few moments to find out the truth.
Bone marrow stem cells are taken from the spinal cord.
The bone marrow donation procedure is
painful.
All bone marrow donations involve surgery.
Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.
If I donate bone marrow stem cells, they cannot be replaced.
Donating bone marrow is dangerous and
weakens the donor.
Bone marrow donation involves a lengthy
recovery process.
I come from a large family, so if I ever need a stem cell
transplant, I should have no problem finding a match within my
family.
MYTH:
Bone
marrow stem cells are taken from the spinal cord.
FACT:
The donor's spinal cord is unaffected in the collection of bone marrow
stem cells. For a bone marrow donation, the collection of the stem cells
is taken from the iliac crest which sits at the back of the pelvic bone.
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MYTH:
The bone marrow donation procedure is
painful.
FACT:
General or regional anaesthetic is always
used for this procedure. Donors feel no needle injections and no pain
during marrow donation. Check out the true life accounts on the
home page for more information.
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MYTH:
All bone marrow donations involve surgery.
FACT:
Many donations do not involve
surgery. Peripheral blood
stem cell (PBSC) donation is a non-surgical and outpatient. For
more about different types of donation
click here.
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MYTH:
Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.
FACT:
Pieces of bone are not removed from the
donor in either type of donation.
A PBSC donation involves taking a series of
injections for five days leading up to donation in order to increase the
donor's needed blood-forming cells. On the fifth day, blood is taken
from the donor through one arm, passed through a machine that separates
out the blood-forming cells, and returned through the donor's other arm.
In bone marrow donation, no pieces of bone are
taken; only the liquid marrow found inside the bones is needed to save
the patient's life.
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MYTH:
If I donate bone marrow stem cells, they cannot be replaced.
FACT:
The body replaces the bone marrow stem cells within six weeks. After
donating, most donors are back to their usual routine in a few days.
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MYTH:
Donating bone marrow is dangerous and
weakens the donor.
FACT:
Though no medical procedure is without risk,
there are rarely any long-term effects from donating. Only five percent
or less of a donor's marrow is needed to save a life. After donation,
the body replaces the donated marrow within four to six weeks.
All donors are screened carefully before
they donate to ensure they are healthy and the procedure is safe for
them. The donation centre also educates donors, answers questions every step of the
way and follows up with donors after donation.
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MYTH:
Bone marrow donation involves a lengthy
recovery process.
FACT:
PBSC
donors may have symptoms such as headache, bone or muscle pain, nausea,
insomnia or fatigue in the five days leading up to donation. These
symptoms nearly always disappear one or two days after donating, and the
donor is back to normal.
Bone marrow donors can expect to feel fatigue,
some soreness or pressure in their lower back and perhaps some
discomfort walking. Marrow donors can expect to be back to work, school
and other activities within one to seven days. The average time for all
symptoms to disappear is 21 days.
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MYTH:
I come from a large family, so if I ever need a stem cell
transplant, I should have no problem finding a match within
my family.
FACT:
The requirements for finding a match are so precise that
fewer than 30% of those in need can receive a transplant
from someone in their own family.
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