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\n\n\t\t\t\t\nThere are a lot of myths about bone marrow donation, but the process is only about as painful as giving blood.<\/p>\n
Guess what? Bone marrow donation hurts the most — when you don\u2019t Join the Global Registry<\/a> to possibly save a life.<\/p>\n Want to know more before you register?<\/em> Well, your wish is our command. Read the FAQs below to learn more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoin the Global Registry\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n A bone marrow transplant is a life-saving treatment for people with leukemia, lymphoma, and a variety of other blood conditions. Prior to receiving a transplant, a patient is treated with chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation. The purpose of these prep-treatments is to completely destroy the diseased marrow.<\/p>\n Once this occurs, the donor\u2019s healthy blood-forming cells are injected into the patient\u2019s bloodstream, where they multiply. To prevent rejection of the healthy cells, it is imperative that the donor closely \u201cmatch\u201d the patient.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> It\u2019s important to understand that approximately 70% of patients are unable to obtain a \u201cmatch\u201d from family members. As a result, they depend on the worldwide bone marrow registry for a potential unrelated bone marrow donor<\/em>.<\/p>\n\t\t\tWhat does Project Life Movement actually\u00a0do?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Project Life Movement is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to save lives and cure diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell disease by growing the number of potential bone marrow and stem cell donors on the global registry. We do this by registering and testing college students.<\/p>\n Why college students?<\/em>\u00a0We recruit young, healthy college students, because they\u00a0typically<\/em>\u00a0provide the most successful \u201cmatches.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\tHow long has Project Life Movement been in existence?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Project Life Movement was originally formed in 1990 by an ambitious group of Davidson College students; however, it continues to expand to more and more colleges and universities each year.<\/p>\n\t\t\tWhy is there a need for people to become volunteer donors?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t There is a need for more volunteer donors because it provides patients with a better chance of receiving the bone marrow transplants they need. Understand that finding a successful \u201cmatch\u201d for patients, who are running out of options, is of utmost concern.<\/p>\n Approximately six out of<\/strong>\u00a010 people<\/strong> who need this life-saving treatment are unable to find a suitable \u201cmatch.\u201d<\/p>\n This statistic is frightening, because every five minutes<\/strong>\u00a0someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer or blood condition that requires a bone marrow transplant.<\/p>\n What does that mean?<\/em> It means that thousands of patients with blood cancers or conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, or sickle cell anemia are in desperate need of stem cell or bone marrow transplants but can\u2019t get them.<\/p>\n The problem?<\/em> There aren\u2019t enough donors to provide for those in need. That is why there is a need for more potential donors to join the registry.<\/p>\n\t\t\tSo, who can become a bone marrow donor?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Potential donors\u00a0must\u00a0<\/strong>be between the ages of\u00a018 and 44.<\/strong>\u00a0They must also be in\u00a0good health<\/strong>. So, you don\u2019t have to be a college student to register and donate bone marrow.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> We primarily recruit younger donors because they tend to have fewer health problems and\u00a0typically<\/em> provide the most successful \u201cmatches,\u201d however, that doesn\u2019t mean we turn other potential donors between 18 and 44<\/strong>\u00a0away.\u00a0Any<\/em> adult who is healthy, within the age range, and willing to donate can be registered and provide bone marrow.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that a potential donor\u00a0must\u00a0<\/strong>also weigh at least\u00a0110 pounds<\/strong>, and be\u00a0HIV negative<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, a potential donor that has one or more of the following conditions is considered\u00a0ineligible<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to register and donate bone marrow.<\/p>\n Once you join the Project Life Movement and join the global registry, you are committed to being on the list until you turn 61 \u2013 unless you ask to be removed. Your commitment also includes the following: (1) possible donation and (2) a quick response, if you are contacted about being a potential \u201cmatch\u201d for a patient.<\/p>\n\t\t\tWhat does the testing and registration process look like?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t The good news is that it\u2019s a remarkably easy process – one that involves using cotton swabs to collect tissue cells from the inside of your cheeks. Four swabs, one for each quadrant of the mouth, are rubbed against the cheek for 10 seconds. The swabbing and completion of registration information generally takes\u00a0less than 10 minutes<\/em>.<\/p>\n\t\t\tWhat happens once I become a potential bone marrow donor?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Once you have been tested and typed, you will be added to the worldwide stem cell & bone marrow registry. This registry is searched daily by doctors around the world to find potential donors, who are genetic \u201cmatches,\u201d with their patients.<\/p>\n If a doctor selects you as a \u201cmatch\u201d for a patient, you\u00a0may\u00a0<\/em>be asked to donate bone marrow or cells.<\/p>\n\t\t\tHow is a bone marrow match determined?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Swabs are used to test and collect tissue cells. These cells contain proteins or \u201cmarkers.\u201d These proteins are found in almost all of the cells in your body, so doctors select donors whose tissue cells closely \u201cmatch\u201d the patient\u2019s. The closer the \u201cmatch,\u201d the better for the patient.<\/p>\n\t\t\tWhat is the donation process like?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Adult donors\u00a0may<\/em> be asked to donate in one of two ways: (1) a sterile needle\u00a0may\u00a0<\/em>be used to withdraw blood from one of your arms, or (2) liquid marrow may<\/em> be withdrawn from the back of your pelvic bones using special, hollow needles.<\/p>\n Once collected, your blood sample is placed in a machine that separates the cells that are to be used in the transplant, and your remaining blood is returned to you in the other arm.<\/p>\n\t\t\tDoes it hurt to donate bone marrow? Are there side effects?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Many people say the entire procedure is no more painful than giving blood. The can also sometimes be performed under anesthesia.<\/p>\n\t\t\tAre there any side-effects I should look out for after donating?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t If side-effects occur, they are usually mild.<\/p>\n However, common side-effects that\u00a0may<\/em>\u00a0occur include the following: lower back pain, stiffness when walking, headaches, and\/or fatigue.<\/p>\n Let your doctor know if you experience continued or worsening side-effects.<\/p>\n Side-effects, if any, are usually temporary, only lasting for a few days.<\/p>\n\t\t\tIf I become a bone marrow donor, what are the chances I will be called upon to donate?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Only one in every 1,000<\/strong> global registry members will be contacted about donating stem cells or bone marrow. Thus, you may<\/em>\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0be called upon to donate, or you\u00a0may<\/em>\u00a0be considered a potential \u201cmatch\u201d for a patient. It just depends.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also possible you\u00a0may\u00a0<\/em>be the only person on the registry who can save a particular patient\u2019s life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How Marrow Donation Works Don’t Believe the Hype. Save a Life! There are a lot of myths about bone marrow donation, but the process is only about as painful as giving blood. Guess what? Bone marrow donation hurts the most — when you don\u2019t Join the Global Registry to possibly save a life. Want to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1689,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-builder.php","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\n\n\t\tFrequently Asked Questions\n\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\tWhat exactly is a bone marrow transplant?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t
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