| A marrow or
blood cell transplant is a potentially life-saving treatment for patients
with leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood diseases. A transplant replaces a
patient's unhealthy blood cells with healthy blood-forming cells from a
volunteer donor. Patients who do not have a matched donor in their family
may search the NMDP donor Registry for a donor. The three sources of
blood-forming cells are marrow, blood-forming cells collected from the
blood (called a PBSC donation) and umbilical cord blood.
Blood samples from adult donors or cord
blood units are tested, and the tissue type is added to the NMDP Registry.
Doctors can search this Registry when they need to find a donor whose
tissue type matches their patient's.
Because tissue type is inherited,
patients are most likely to match someone of their same race and
ethnicity. There is a special need to recruit more donors who identify
themselves as: Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska
Native, Asian, Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino.
Marrow donation is a surgical procedure
performed in a hospital. While the donor receives anesthesia, doctors use
special, hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the donor's pelvic
bones. Many donors receive a transfusion of their own previously donated
blood. A donor's marrow is completely replaced within four to six weeks.
PBSC donation takes place at an
apheresis center. To increase the number of blood-forming cells in the
bloodstream, donors receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim
for five days before the collection. The donor's blood is then removed
through a sterile needle in one arm, passed through a machine that
separates out the cells used in transplantation, and the remaining blood
is returned through the other arm.
Cord blood is collected from the
umbilical cord after a baby's birth. The cord blood is taken to a cord
blood bank where it is tested. Cord blood units that meet eligibility
standards are frozen and stored for future use. The collection does not
pose any health risk to the mother or baby, and does not affect the birth
process in any way.
Marrow donors can expect to feel some
soreness in their lower back for a few days or longer. Donors also have
reported feeling tired and having some difficulty walking. Most donors are
back to their usual routine in a few days. Some may take two to three
weeks before they feel completely recovered.
PBSC donors report varying symptoms
including headache, bone or muscle pain, nausea, insomnia and fatigue
while receiving injections of filgrastim. These effects disappear shortly
after collection. During the collection, donors may experience a tingling
feeling or chills. These effects go away shortly after donating. When
asked about their discomfort, most donors are quick to point out that it
was worth it to help save a life, and they would be willing to do it
again.
After a patient undergoes chemotherapy
and/or radiation treatment to destroy their diseased marrow, the healthy
donor cells are given directly into the patient's bloodstream. The cells
travel to the marrow, where they begin to function and multiply.
Potential donors must be between the
ages of 18 and 60 years old and meet health guidelines. A small blood
sample is taken and tested to determine the donor's tissue type. Potential
donors also complete a brief health questionnaire and sign a consent form
to have their tissue type listed on the Registry.
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