- Thread starter
- #21
Thanks to everyone for putting some money in. I really appreciate it, no matter how much.
With regards to bone marrow donation you basically fill in a form next time you give blood. You can ask for the form when you sign in. Here is the link for info on it http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/, or the anthony nolan trust are the charity that match donor to the patient http://www.anthonynolan.org/.
My little boy developed Acute Myeloid Leukeamia when he was 2. He had 4 courses of chemo, then was given the all clear to carry on with life with various outpatient appointments. Even though he'd completed treatment and was in Remission he still had a 30% chance that it would return. Unfortuntately it did over Xmas. When the cancer returns, from history of trials, etc, they know that the only known cure is a bone marrow transplant. Basically he will have the stem cells in his bone marrow wiped out, then once that has happened a donors stem cells will be given to him in the same fashion as recieving blood. The stem cells will graft, and then begin to produce new blood cells (red, white and platelets). But because the immune system is different to the host's immune system, it will fight off any existing cells that are resident i.e. cancer cells. And this is how it works. very clever.
To give Stem cells there are two ways I believe. 1, to use a special syringe to suck some out of your pelvis area - I don't think this is used that much anymore. 2, To give you a drug a few days on the trot (I think to create and release stem cells into your blood stream), then on day 4 (I think) you go into a hospital and they take blood from you over a period of time. During that period, the machine seperates the Stem cells from your normal blood cells, and stores them. The rest of the blood cells are returned to your body. That's it. I think all your costs are paid for by the NHS, and I think your employer is bound to give you time off work to do it.
So, you've given the chance of life to another person and yet you still have all your organs and are alive. I think this is the only such transplant where you can do this.
one thing to note, is that even though we're on the register, this doesn't mean we'll ever be asked to be a donor. IT all depends on if you're a match with someone who needs it. THis is why a large donation list is required, so it covers all variations of DNA. It's funny because neither me, nor my wife are matched with my boy, but a complete stranger is. I think siblings have a 1 in 4 chance of being a match. That's it, it's purely large numbers of people on the register covers every combination.
I hope I've explained that correctly. I'm no Dr, but have learnt a lot over the past year/ or two.
Thanks again for sponsoring me. very much appreciated.
Last edited:
