Bone marrow donation for leukaemia - upper age limit?

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Hi, does anyone have any knowledge about siblings donating bone marrow for leukaemia treatment. My dad's sister has been diagnosed and dad who is 68 is hoping that he will be a match. Whilst we know that he may not be I'm also wondering if, at his age, he would be able to donate anyway? I see that on the NHS register you have to be under 60 but I don't know if the rules are different for a family member. Does anyone have any experience of this? Thanks

Yes, I believe my aunt was going to be a donor for my uncle and she was over 60 at the time. I think if they're a match and in good health generally it should be fine? Hope all goes well.

Thanks freezing, that's good to hear. I don't want him getting too hopeful that he can help only to be told he's not a contender because of his age! We will find our more this week, my auntie has only just been diagnosed so we don't know much other than she begins chemotherapy soon

I don't think it'll be an issue at all, but if you are worried you could ring Anthony Nolan? They're really knowledgeable!

Do you know if your aunt will definitely need a transplant? I wish her a speedy recovery

We don't know yet, we should know more by the end of this week but my dad is trying to be prepared and obviously wants to help. I just didn't want him to get his hopes up only to be told he's too old! Thanks for your reply

It's looked at on an individual basis. If he's fit and well his age won't prevent donation. If he's a match he'll be assessed by an independent doctor (so not involved in his sister's care) to decide if he's fit enough. Also, usually bone marrow isn't used, but peripheral blood stem cells. They are collected on a machine a bit like a dialysis machine, so the donor doesn't need a general anaesthetic or become very anaemic like in the old days. There's only a 1in 4 chance he'll be a match, but there are huge numbers of unrelated donors available and a match is usually found. Hope things go well for your aunt

Thank you mummypenguin, that's very helpful and reassuring

For a number of days before the collection, the donor is given a daily injection to boost stem cell numbers at collection, which as mummy describes is similar to being hooked up to a dialysis machine.
Donations can also come from Europe, which increases the opportunity of a match being found.

Wishing your aunt the best of luck.

Thank you Johnlegendwife. My auntie has been in ICU with an infection for a week now so nothing further has been done about transplant. We are taking each day as it comes, I appreciate your post

My husband has recently has a stem cell transplant and the donor was his brother who is 55 and a 10/10 match. Age was never even brought up as an issue.

This thread is interesting. I tried to register a few years ago but was too old according to the website. I'm 54 now but it looks as if I could still apply. Will have to look into it.

Anthony Nolan have a cut off point somewhere in the 40s, but for sibling donors they seem happy to waive that. Apparently success rates are greater with a younger donor, but donor match trumps that.

Right - so I couldn't be on their register as such, but if I matched, say, a family member in need they'd probably go ahead!?

That's my understanding, but although DH had a sibling donor, I obviously know much more about it from the recipient's side.

But please do investigate as I may well be wrong, and bone marrow and (more usually) peripheral stem cell donors are so needed.

Will do - thank you.