When I talk to people or post online about registering to become a bone marrow donor, many are at first hesitant to take action. The reason for their hesitation is due to assumptions they make and the lack of information about the process. They say that ignorance is bliss. When it comes to registering to become a donor, ignorance may deny you the chance to save a life.
The Truth about Bone Marrow Registration and Donation
Myth: Someone else will do it.
Fact: Unlike blood donations, you may be the only person in the world who is a match for a patient in need. A "someone else will do it" attitude is dangerous.
Fact: Unlike blood donations, you may be the only person in the world who is a match for a patient in need. A "someone else will do it" attitude is dangerous.
Myth: Donating bone marrow will leave me with a hole in my bone.
Fact: Doctors today rarely puncture the bone to collect bone marrow. If there is a need for such a procedure, they collect the blood inside the bone because it's rich with stem cells. If you are called to donate, the procedure will most likely be similar to donating blood or plasma .
Myth: I need my bone marrow and stem cells.
Fact: While you do need bone marrow and stem cells, your body will replenish any that you donate, just like blood.
Myth: Signing up to be a donor is painful and complicated.
Fact: Registering to become a donor through Be the Match is as simple as answering a few health-related questions and rubbing some cotton swabs along the inside of your cheek. The process takes less than 5 minutes.
Myth: Registering as a donor involves needles.
Fact: It does not.
Myth: Donating is painful.
Fact: The level of discomfort that you may feel when you donate is negligible. Some donors don't report any pain at all. If you decide to donate your newborn's umbilical cord blood, your baby will not feel any pain at all.
Myth: I'm too busy to help.
Fact: If you have time to stand in line for coffee, you have time to register as a donor. If you are called to donate, the process takes between three to six days (most are partial days), depending on the procedure.
Myth: I can't sign up to become a bone marrow donor because I just donated blood.
Fact: You don't need to provide a blood sample when you register to become a bone marrow donor.
Myth: You need the right blood type to sign up to be a donor or to donate.
Fact: Your blood type does not matter when it comes to donating bone marrow/stem cells or registering to donate. Instead, doctors look at the human
leukocyte antigens (HLA) in your DNA.
Myth: Being a donor is expensive. I can't afford to take time off work.
Fact: Donors never pay to donate. In fact, some states require employers to provide paid donor leave. You may also be eligible for state tax deductions or income tax credits. Learn more here.
Myth: I'm going to get called to donate as soon as I register.
Fact: This rarely happens. Your chances of getting called to donate at any time in your life are about 1 in 500 (0.002 percent).
Myth: A bone marrow transplant is like an organ transplant.
Fact: In many ways, the procedure is much simpler for the donor since it is often similar to donating blood and you don't risk your life. For the patient, however, the process of finding an HLA match can be more difficult than finding an organ donor.
Fact: In many ways, the procedure is much simpler for the donor since it is often similar to donating blood and you don't risk your life. For the patient, however, the process of finding an HLA match can be more difficult than finding an organ donor.
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