How would i go about donating bone marrow?

[ROSEgarden]

watching a programme(totally unrelated to this issue) other night and it had two children on who needed a one marrow transplant..i was talking about it with dp and said if there wasa way i would not have to 'not work' while i recovered i would like to do this...then on the show, one of the 'helpers' told a member of staff, they ahve a new system where they can inject you with some kind of medication which draws bone marrow out into your blood stream..they then can take the blood from you, bringing with it the bone amrrow!...they said it takes about 6 hours(this was an old programme?) but im very keen tofind out more but dont know where to start??

Contact Anthony Nolan Trust (they'll be on google)
You can also register via blood donor website I think

Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust

Well done you!! I think if you prob speak to a GP etc they may be able to tell you or google Bone Marrow donation and that should come up with something.

Good for you Rose!! Look here Anthony Nolan Trust for info.

Hiya, thansk for that, i DID google just now and anthony nolan was first name to come up..i found links further down which details the method of donation i would be able to do..5 days of injections folowed by them taking blood(containing bone marrow) then the blood is put back into the person hospital retaining the bone marrow...just wonder where i could do this and how possible when i work each day??..i live quite clsoe to large hosp, so 'could' go there for injections with children(im a childminder) if its just a quick injection and off???

right have emailed the lady from anthony nolan site, se what she says

I think the idea is that you just sit on their database until they get a match with someone who needs a transplant. I don't think it's like donating blood, which can be banked and used for anyone of the same blood type. Bone marrow is far more specific (as in you could be a match for only one in hundreds of thousands).

A nurse friend told me that you should only sign up to the AN Trust if you're absolutely serious about going through with it if somebody did require a transplant, (a) because it is quite expensive to test your type and maintain the database (you will need to be diligent about telling them EVERY time you move for the rest of your life), and (b) if you are a match, you may very well be the ONLY match for the patient, and obviously it would be devastating for the patient to be told that the one and only person who matched them had changed their mind about having the transplant.

Good for you, but it really isn't something to do lightly.

n i understand that i found out about the tests and then waiting and being called upon when and if someone with a match requires bone marrow...im still waiting to hear back from AN trust, so will hopefully be able to make an informed descision soon