To ask you to please sign up to be bone marrow donors?

[PleaseHelpMNers]

Link here: www.anthonynolan.org/apply-join-bone-marrow-register

A friend of a friend was diagnosed with leukaemia a week before Christmas. She's only 24 years old She needs a bone marrow transplant but this is proving difficult as mixed race donors are hard to find. Her only brother is not a match

www.match4lara.com

Please, please sign up. They will only contact you if you are a match

I second this wholeheartedly! My Dad had a stem cell transplant in June and we will forever be indebted to the amazingness of his cell donor and the blood donors that gave the many pints he needed. Please get on the BM register, donate blood regularly and ensure you are on the organ donor register too. I always say, if you would accept marrow, cells, blood and/or an organ, you should be prepared to give yours (if permitted, of course).

I signed up to Delete Blood Cancer UK. Their age cut off point is higher than Anthony Nolan which is quite low.

"To those who say think twice about the procedure, I would say that if you were willing to take someone else's bone marrow/stem cells for yourself or your child, then you should also be willing to donate."

This.

I have just seen this and weirdly I joined the bone marrow registry whilst giving blood today. It was very easy except I had to ask to join- sadly their is no "have you thought about donating bone marrow?" Push at blood donation sessions.

My son had suspected bone cancer since my last blood donation. I had always meant to sign up, but this prompted me to actually doing it. I am completely happy to go through any procedure to help someone else. I could have been my son needing someone else's bone marrow. I would do anything to help someone and their nearest and dearest in that situation.

Any one know if I can join if I have a genetic disorder? It seems as though I possibly could but I'm not sure if I'm being a bit stupid? I'm ruled out of giving blood due to it (plus previous transfusions).

Bump because it's such a worthy cause and I know a young girl recovering from lukemia. I'm currently unable to sign up, but will try to remember to in the future

My children's father had a bone marrow transplant.

He died, but it gave them an extra year with their dad. I will forever be grateful to the wonderful man who donated and gave my children and their dad that extra year.

My son is in remission from leukaemia. Thankfully it is unlikely (but not impossible) he will ever need a stem cell transplant but as a result I am in contact with many families whose children have needed one. It's an amazing thing to do!

So I'm bumping this

Just to repeat what others have said about Delete, you can still register with them up to the age of 55. The process is really simple and all you have to do is return a swab in a pre-paid envelope.

Go on, do it now!

Bumping!

I signed up when giving blood - do I need to do it via these charities too, or does it all go to the same database?

People should definitely do this. At the risk of outing myself, my youngest is in need of a stem cell donor, he's a rare tissue type too so the more donors there are, the more chance there is of finding a match.

I was contacted by Anthony Nolan just before Christmas, and now waiting for the results of the blood tests. I'm 39 and I'm sure I only registered a few years ago?

I am overweight but am attempting to lose weight this is even more motivation for me. I would want my family to recieve stem cells/bone marrow so I feel it's only right to offer my own.

www.match4lara.com Posting this so it goes on my TIO list - Lara is the daughter of the friend of a friend.

I can't register

Too old for Anthony Nolan, previously had blood transfusion so can't register with British Bone Marrow Registry, and have bad asthma, so not accepted by Delete.

Am a registered (and regular) blood donor and am also on the bone marrow register, arranged whilst at the blood donation centre, so I know my details are on the national database.

Continuing to encourage all my family and friends to do the same.

Would also encourage everyone to sign up for organ donation. Would absolutely to love to think that my death could result in someone else's life being saved. Even better if I can do that whilst living - blood and bone marrow donation...

Bumping thread. Always wanted to do this but no longer able to.

I signed up a few years ago - I think the discomfort is worth it if I could potentially save someone's life.

Bumping thread. I can't donate anything as I have had chronic kidney disease which led to one being removed

Late morning bump.

Can I just ask... the cut off for signing up to Anthony Nolan - I am beyond that age now, so do I stay on the register as I was young enough when I signed up or am I off it now as I am too old? ?

If the first, great, but a bit illogical as I can't see what difference it makes when you sign up, as you might not donate until years later if at all
If the later, does anyone know why?

I don't know but I'll bump this and maybe someone else will. The Delete Blood Cancer registry supports older donors. I sadly can't give blood anymore as I have an autoimmune disease but am incredibly grateful to all those who are generous. I used to give plasma, you just go to a hospital, they take blood out and then put it back in again without the plasma. It doesn't take long.

wtf this is what it says on the website. So it seems you'll still be on it until you are 60.

*Why do I need to be under 30 to join the register?

Statistics show that young people are more likely to be chosen as donors in lifesaving transplants.

Of course, people over 30 can make excellent donors too, and that’s why we ask people to stay on our register until they’re 60.

But younger donors have fewer complications, such as heart disease and diabetes, that would prevent them donating. When every day counts for someone in desperate need of a lifesaving transplant, finding out a donor can’t proceed can waste precious time.

In addition, it costs £60 to add each donor to our register. As a charity with limited resources, we need to focus on recruiting the people most likely to be chosen as donors.
*

Just bumping this up a bit - don't forget you can sign up for Delete Blood Cancer if you are over 30.