Why do we need bone marrow donors? Can I help?

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 26 Jul 2004 - 11:00 PDT


Bone marrow or stem cell transplants are necessary when the bone marrow becomes diseased or damaged so that it can't function normally.

Sometimes the damage to the bone marrow is a result of treatment for leukaemia or a related cancer of the blood. In order to destroy all the leukaemia cells it may be necessary to use treatment so strong that it completely destroys the bone marrow, in which case a bone-marrow or stem cell transplant must be given to restore blood cell production.

Without the stem cells to produce blood the patient will not survive. So you can see, when we say 'bone marrow saves lives' we really mean it.

Where do donors come from?

Sometimes an appropriate donor can be found within the patient's immediate family as it is more likely that their 'tissue type' will match. However, only 30% of donors are found this way, and this is when we rely on the British Bone Marrow Registry to find another suitable donor. And this is the reason we really need people like you who are prepared to help save a life.

It is your genes that determine your tissue type. But there are other factors that determine the probability of finding a compatible tissue typed donor for a patient. Some tissue types are more common in particular ethnic backgrounds. Therefore, in addition to matching a donor and patient's tissue type it's also important to match the ethnic background. By doing this, the transplant has a better chance of being successful.

How can I help?

We're extremely pleased that you've asked yourself if you can help, because we are always looking for new bone marrow donors to help save the lives of people who desperately need a transplant. Before you can become a donor though there's some important information you need to read and some things that we'll need to ask you too, but for now all we need to know is:

Are you aged between 18 and 44?

and

Have you, or are you prepared to give blood?

If you answered yes to both these questions, then - providing there are no medical reasons that prevent you from doing so - you may well be able to become a bone marrow donor. Just click here to be taken to our online enquiry form and we'll send you more information and details of where you can go to register.

Thank you for taking the time to find out whether you can save a life.

http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/marrow_info_why.html

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