Has anyone joined the anthony nolan register?

[Amy214]

I've just applied and i live in scotland. I have never donated blood and i have registered for that aswell (need to wait until august as you need to wait 12 months after a tattoo) do you need to go to london if you are a match? (im a bit worried about dd can i take her with me?) it did say if you were sent to london or sheffield all expenses are paid including food which i was bit surprised at..
I'm looking forward to doing something good for someone in need.
Has anyone donated before?
What's the chances of them finding a match so soon?

[Brainwashed]

Ive been on the register for about 10 years. Never been contacted

[Amy214]

My df has been on it for ages aswell and he's never been contacted either. I guess it is worth it incase you are a match for someone.

[mrsfuzzy]

would love to donate blood again but have had transfusions, even so as much as i want to join anthony nolan don't think i could. have been registered for organ donation for years though, any takers might have to wait a bit longer though !

[mrsfuzzy]

amy how about being a blood donor ? you can do that up to three times a year i think.

[BeyondTellingEveryoneRealFacts]

I cant, but here is a and a link :)

www.anthonynolan.org/8-ways-you-could-save-life/donate-your-stem-cells

[BillSykesDog]

Also been on it a long time (13 years) with no contact. I wouldn't worry too much, it's only likely to be an issue if they need you and that's not common (although extremely important if they do). Put it to the back of your mind when, and if, they need you to.

[INeedSomeHelp]

I signed up at least 10 years ago and have never been contacted.
I give blood regularly and have also donated plasma (which you can do more regularly than giving blood) so still like to think I'm doing my bit.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

I've been contacted twice, I signed up to the bone marrow register through donating blood around 14/15 years ago.
Once I had just found out I was pregnant so of course couldn't donate. The second time I had further testing but was not a good enough match.
With bone marrow donating there are stages of testing and they are very, very clear that you can pull out at any time. When they initially contact you to say you are a potential match they talk you through things and ask if you are willing to undergo further testing which will be local to you. Not having been further than that I can't comment but as I said, they are very clear that it is your decision.

[glasgowlass]

I've been on the register now for about 14 years. I've never been contacted but please do make sure you keep them informed of changes of address/telephone/email etc.

I used to help run donor drive clinics with the mother of a girl who was in need of a bone marrow transplant, talking to potential donors & taking a blood sample (back in the day when you needed a full vacutainer of blood...think it's changed now though) if they wanted to sign themselves up. They are very clear that you can say you don't want to go ahead at any stage though. There is no pressure.
The SNBTS used to ask you if you wanted to be on their bone marrow list when you first donated blood but I've not worked for them since 2004 so that may have changed too.

[Amy214]

mrsfuzzy i've registered for blood donation but i had a tattoo last august, you need to wait for 12 months.
I would like to donate but i don't know anyone who has actually done it, i've only read the positive stories online. I'm not so sure about donating bone marrow but i'm ok with stem cells (it said on the website that most donars donate stem cells)
I was just worried about who would babysit dd since she's still so young but if i won't be contacted for years it should be ok and i will work something out if/when it happens.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

I'm on the register and have been for years but no contact here either.

[thatsn0tmyname]

I looked into it after a work colleague got a Spit Kit in the post. He's mid 20s and I'm 42 so they wouldn't use me (they're a charity and need to invest funds in donors who are statistically likely to be needed). The NHS would take donors up to 49 but I didn't follow it up but I'm a regular blood donor instead.

[Amy214]

The spit kit costs £60 and they send it with a prepaid envelope (It is very expensive for a charity) It did say the donars are between 16 - 30 but you stay on the register until you are 60.
I am hoping to start donating blood in august

[twinmamma2b]

My DF had a stem cell transplant last year so I'm over-the-moon to hear that so many people are signing up. :-)

The probability of being called is very small; DF had 3 UK based registered matches and 25 in the world. The doctors then choose the best match - in our case it was an international one where the donor donated at their local hospital and the stems were then flown to our local hospital. A truly amazing process.

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have to go to London to donate. I think you would be able to go to the specialist unit closest to you (Edinburgh, Glasgow?). The stems would then be transported to the recipient. You would get notice for when it would be so you would have time to put childcare in place.

[stiffstink]

The Anthony Nolan Trust has an age limit for new registrations but Delete Blood Cancer doesn't so please try them if you are over 30.

[BalloonSlayer]

I was contacted once for further testing and was apparently "quite a good match" but presumably someone else was a better one as they didn't need me.

You have to be very sure you will be prepared to donate if you are asked to, before the preparation process starts. You can't back out on the day or even the week before - the recipient would die.

You probably need to adopt a "I will manage to get there by hook or by crook" view if you are going to continue. The hospital in London looks like a real PITA to get to but I decided not to think about it too much as I know I'd definitely manage it if needed.

[JudyCoolibar]

I've been on for over 20 years. I've only been called up once, and I wasn't a good enough match. There were only a few places nearby I could go to for the blood tests but they gave me a choice within that limited number of places. However, it was so long ago the system may well have changed by now.

[ERRitsFTR]

I've been on the register for about 10 years and I've never been contacted but I imagine you'd have time to arrange childcare, well done for signing up

[allegretto]

My friend needs a transplant and i am looking into this now. Obviously it's unlikely that I would be a match for her but it would be great to help someone.

[Lunar1]

I was rejected for psoriasis, I do give blood though.

[CurlyBlueberry]

I have been called once and gave a further sample but they didn't need me after that. I live in London though so it's much simpler for me.

[lovelychops]

So pleased to hear of people signing up. My DD has finished treatment for leukaemia recently, so it's been something very prominent in my mind.

I've signed up. It's so easy. I don't think they emphasise how easy it is to sign up. Wish everyone would do it.

I can't give blood due to a transfusion when I had DD, but I think people who do it are amazing. It's worth remembering you can donate platelets too.

[iklboo]

Sadly too old and medication I'm on means I can't currently donate blood either. Very frustrating.

[7to25]

My son has been on the register for 12 years and has been contacted twice. The first time he was not a good enough match. This time he has been for a medical (in London) and will donate in a couple of weeks. All expenses are paid for. He is 30.

[Wombat45]

I'm on the register but have never been contacted.

For donating platelets, you need to be above a minimum weight which depends on your height also. So if you're petite and/or slim you might not be able to do it.