To ask you to register as a blood stem cell donor if you can?

[SinkGirl]

Had an email from DKMS saying they urgently need donors especially right now as many people with blood cancer are having treatments delayed.

I thought you could only register if you were young but that’s not the case. Testing is done via mouth swab in a home test kit which you just pop in the postbox on your daily walk.

There are some exclusions but I have some health issues and on medication but I am still able to donate so it’s worth checking.

Link to get a test kit is here:
www.dkms.org.uk/en/register-now?em

I’m already registered after a friend of mine died of blood cancer 😞

I have blood cancer, so am giving this a self-interested bump

Blood donations count as essential at the moment, so if you can donate please continue to do so. You can sign up for the bone marrow register at your regular session, just ask at reception when you arrive (you fill in an extra form, and they draw one extra testing vial, and it’s done)

I thought you could only register if you were young but that’s not the case.
You have to be under 55.

Sorry, I mean really young. I had thought it was under 25 (so very young), but that was something different (bone marrow charity possibly?) - I was really happy when I found out I could register for DKMS as I thought I was too old.

I appreciate there will be many people who are over the maximum age or have medical issues which preclude them but it’s so easy to register so I hope others will consider it. I have a terrible needle phobia but will be straight down there (with my buzzy and some music and headphones) if I match with anyone!

Little bump :)

The advantage of young donors is that they can be on the panel for many more years than an older person.

That is very true. Still, any of us could be a match to someone waiting right now so it’s worth doing even if close to the age limit :)

It's really easy to register as well, everything comes in the post. I did mine several months ago now.

Another point is that we need a greater diversity of donors. More people of mixed heritage in particular

Bumping for you!
I am registered with DKMS, have been for years, as my DM and BF had non Hodgkins and Hodgkins lymphoma respectively.
You just have to take a simple cheek swab to register. No needles involved, unless you are a match with someone.
They also need cash donations.

My DH's life was saved by a stem cell transplant. Do it if you can, and to those that already have, thank you.

Don't forget about the normal blood transfusion service, I gave blood a few weeks ago and attendance was really down

I've just registered. I thought I'd be too old (55) but it says I can remain on register till my 61st birthday

I can’t because I had a blood transfusion

How does mixed heritage work for this, does anyone know?

One of my parents is white British and the other is mixed race as their parent is from another country but one is white British so for this would I be classed as mixed race too or is it only if one of your parents is fully from another ethnicity ie not mixed race themselves?

@ginkypig I would say you are still mixed heritage

But I would right it in the ‘other’ box and explain your heritage exactly to clarify

I would love to do this but I don’t think they would let me. I have anaemia and low white blood cells so I doubt my blood would be very helpful. Thank you for bring awareness to this.

Just registered- I thought you could only register if you were under 25 too, so thank you for the post @SinkGirl

I've just registered and donated a bit of cash.

Already am :) been on for a couple of year now. Least I can do!

@cinammonbuns it's not blood they take. It's the stem cells that produce the blood cells. They might not take a donation if it leaves you compromised though.

Oh I’m so glad some extra people have registered - that’s awesome! I don’t know anyone who’s had blood cancer but I’m glad that there’s something I can do to hopefully help someone one day.

If anyone is sure whether they’d be ineligible, just drop them a message - I did as I was unsure whether I could donate and they were so helpful.

They are especially keen to have people of mixed heritage IIRC.
Well done to those who've registered.

I used to be on the register, I can't now as I have MS but I'm planning to donate my spinal chord and brain.

Does anybody know whether the two agencies - organ donation and MS society would work together to harvest what they both need? I've asked the MS Society but not heard back.

Thank you for sharing this.

My husband was diagnosed with Myeloma at the age of 40 a couple of years ago. He had a stem cell transplant, and is thankfully in remission at the moment, but is still on the ‘vulnerable’ list in the current circumstances. I feel so sorry for all blood cancer (and any cancer for that matter) patients who have compromised immune systems and/or are having treatment postponed right now. As if they don’t have enough to worry about.

I am already a registered donor with DKMS, and urge anyone who can to do so too. It’s very easy to register, and If you are match then actually donating stem cells doesn’t involve surgery so is less scary than it sounds. Please sign up if you can. Thank you!