Is everyone on the bone marrow register?

[stardusty]

My friend's DS has aplastic anemia and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. No one in the family is a match as mum is Hong Kong Chinese and Dad is western which is making it much harder. If you are not on the register, please could you consider joining? It might just save someone's life. Thanks

If you are under the age of 30, register with Anthony Nolan
www.anthonynolan.org/8-ways-you-could-save-life/donate-your-stem-cells

If you are over 30 years old, register with DKMS
www.dkms.org.uk/en/register-now

Ps I have name changed for this post as it's fairly outing.

@Muchtoomuchtodo

I registered with AN when I was much younger.

Can I assume I am still registered?

Just checked the Antony Nolan faqs - it looks like you are kept on the register until you turn 61. Hope they helps.

Grrr -that helps

@stardusty that’s good to know. Thanks x

Sorry to hear about your DF's DS. I'm on the DKMS although I'm about to fall off the upper age limit.

Just wanted to add that registration with DKMS is super simple and just involves a simple form abs a cheek swab, even I could manage it

I’ve been on for 20 years.

Db has actually donated. He discovered afterwards that the woman he donated to was a mother with two young children - one of which was the same age as his son. She is alive because of him. The children still have their mum because of him.

Here’s a weird thing - presumably if you took her blood and my blood and compared them then you would think that we are sisters? I will never meet her but I quite like that. I always wanted a sister.

@Mumoftwoinprimary

I’ve been on for 20 years.

Db has actually donated. He discovered afterwards that the woman he donated to was a mother with two young children - one of which was the same age as his son. She is alive because of him. The children still have their mum because of him.

Here’s a weird thing - presumably if you took her blood and my blood and compared them then you would think that we are sisters? I will never meet her but I quite like that. I always wanted a sister.

Wow, that's amazing! And definitely makes you magical siblings I think.

I was looking into this the other day! What is the actual process if you are a match? I'm a bit squeamish and almost pass out when I give blood, so want to know exactly what happens. I know that sounds stupid though when it could save someone's life!

I've had the anti-d injection while pregnant, can I still do it?

And can I register while breastfeeding?

@Confusedbear91

I was looking into this the other day! What is the actual process if you are a match? I'm a bit squeamish and almost pass out when I give blood, so want to know exactly what happens. I know that sounds stupid though when it could save someone's life!

I've had the anti-d injection while pregnant, can I still do it?

And can I register while breastfeeding?

I can't answer the anti d question so suffer you contact the register before asking for a pack.

In terms of the actual donation, I found the following link: www.dkms.org.uk/donation-explained

Thanks very much for considering it.

Suggest not suffer! One day I will proof read my replies properly.

I am and have been for a couple of years. Never been contacted though

I can’t join as I have a trait. That rule probably explains why bone marrow related cancer survival rates for my ethnicities (both of them) are so low.

@Ozanj

I can’t join as I have a trait. That rule probably explains why bone marrow related cancer survival rates for my ethnicities (both of them) are so low.

I think traits like that must be hugely influential in outcomes. But I'm hoping it's also a numbers game and that raising awareness can help to increase the numbpeople signing up which might improve outcomes.

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone registered.
I had leukemia and had a 10/10 match from a 23 year old lady from Germany 18 months ago.

I find it hard to believe that someone I don't know would be so selfless to donate stem cells

@ceecee32, that’s lovely!

I’ve been on the Anthony Nolan register for several years. My sister signed up within a week or so of me, which was a weird coincidence as we hadn’t talked about it and didn’t live together. I’d love to donate.

I read that men tend to make the better donors, so we particularly need more young men from different ethnic backgrounds to sign up.

I've just spotted this thread, and am posting to bump.

It's really important to have as many people as possible in the register.

It's separate from giving blood, but if you are a blood donor you can join a bone marrow registry next time you donate (you fill in a firm, they draw off one extra testing vial, job done)

I had a stem cell transplant so obviously cant be a donor but thought I would bump your post up. It might be better on chat or aibu for more traffic though

My young DS died of an aggressive leukaemia earlier this year.

No bone marrow match was found for him nationally or on the international register.

I hope your friends son will be okay and finds a donor soon

Sorry, meant to add we have bog standard ethnicity too so I have no idea why no match was ever found, just that it's so important for everyone who can (especially younger males) to register

Blindspots

Thank you for this - I didn’t know younger males were especially “useful”. Will get DS to apply

I tried few years back but because was over 40 they didn’t want me