Is anyone on the bone marrow donor list?

It's one of those things I have been meaning to do but haven't got round to yet. Plus I need to figure out if I'm eligible as I can't give blood due to Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I think the thought of donating bone marrow is terrifiying, but at the same time I used to work in childhood cancer research and if I could help one child with leukaemia a little bit of pain and inconvenience for me would be more than worth it.

I've been on it for 3 or 4 years. Like Dr DL the thought of being able to help somone (what if I was the only person in the world who was a perfect match? and what if my daughter ever needed a donor and her perfect match hadn't registered?) outweighs any fears. I imagine that if I ever was a match for someone I would be given lots of opportunity to ask questions etc before going ahead.

Presumably there must be lots of info online? Why don't you research it a bit more thoroughly before making a decision?

I have been on the list about 18 years and only once have i been called as i was a close match.I was sent blood tubes and went to the hospital for blood tests,but someone else came out as a closer match.

To be honest i was terrified of what would happen.The chances of me ever been called again must be very slim.I am still on the register so you never know.

I joined the register many years ago but think I'm probably too old now to be eligible (think you have to be under 40). In all the years I have been on the list, I was only ever once called in to give a further blood sample - for compatability tests, I suppose - but after the sample was sent off I never heard back, so I presume I wasn't the match thye were lookiing for.

I have to say the thought of donating didn't / doesn't phase me at all. It seems to be a relatively small thing that I could do that could be of massive benefit to someone else, so in my mind it's an easy choice.

You have to be under 50 (I'm over 40 as well).

I'm going to seriously consider doing this. I know it can make a huge difference to someone's life.

Hi, I went on the register the first time I gave blood, in 1995. My friend had just been diagnosed with leukaemia and it was the only practical thing I felt I could do at the time.

I was called up in February 2007, did my extra samples, read up as much as I could (including posting on here - some posters had donated themselves so that was really useful).

TBH I got a bit fed up waiting to hear as we were putting off trying to conceive - the rejection letter received 6 months later was perfectly timed in that respect!

I had no hesitation at all in saying yes to further testing, didn't find the idea too bad, but then I'd do anything to help anyone in my friend's situation. If it came up again I'd be there in a heartbeat.

Just remember it is entirely voluntary. If you do get called up, like I said it takes ages to match up all the blood components, so you have loads of time to get more information.

And you've just reminded me i should have started donating blood again ages ago! Well done for signing up yourself though. They just take an extra sample for further testing at your next blood donation if you want to be on the BM register.

I've been on the register for about 10 years - my dad died of leukemia and although he didn't get to the point of needing a transplant had he needed one i would have been eternally grateful to anyone that put themselves forward to help someone in this situation. In the 10 years i've been on it i have never been called up - my brother did once but only got as far as the intial blood tests.One of our good friends did donate as he was a match - he had to come to london and he and his wife were put up in a hotel and their expenses paid - he said it did hurt but was worth it to know he may have helped save someones life.

equally i am grateful to anyone who gives blood - my dad had daily blood/ platelet transfusions and i don't think people realise how many people need blood - and it is such an easy and quick thing to do if you can - having said that i'm get to persuade H to do it.

Yep, a colleague died of leukemia. Before he died, however, most of us were tested to see if we were a match for him or anyone else waiting for a transplant.

My Husband is - a few years back our friends little boy needed a transplant and all our friends were tested (I was unable to as i was pregnant) - Sam has literally today received a letter today saying he may be a match. However not sure whats going to happen as he's in forces and due to go to Afghan at the end of the year so not sure whether the Navy will let him do it.

The same happened to H last year. He is registered with the Anthony Nolan Trust here in Scotland. He too was not a close enough match.

Along with his blood tubes was a lot of info about what happens next should he get that far (details of harvesting bone marrow and whether general anesthetic was needed) which was a bit scary for me let alone him. But thankfully it didn't get that far, though he would be prepared to go through it if required.

I'm also on the bone marrow register.

I am. Never been called for testing tho. I give blood as regularly as i can [between giving birth which has knocked my total down a lot]

I am planning on becoming a platelet donor once A is in school full time [can get someone to look after F whilst i go] so that will be from next september - probably only manage a year of that before F is in nursery - but then i can always restart when s he is in school full time.

my brother had a transfusion just before he died - we were so grateful that he was more comfortable and able to say his goodbyes etc.

Yes I am on register, have been for years, never been called.

I'm like ST, my blood giving has been knackered recently as for the past 6 years I've either been TTC or pregnant or breastfeeding. I hope to get through one more birth ideally without having to have a transfusion, then I'll go back to donating regularly.

my dad has done well over one hundred donations and they use his blood for the special care baby unit - still going at the age of 66. he's a bit of an inspiration and hero to me because of it and I'd like to get to 50. I think I've got a long way to go though.

I'm not on the register anymore for health reasons but my last job was in clinical haematolgy and I was link nurse for post transplant patients. Transplants are used for quite a range of conditions now and cells are either harvested from bone or direct from the blood. The risks to the patient of having a transplant from an unrelated donor are increased but for many this is the only option. I know many people whose lives have been transformed by transplants and who are grateful to everyone who is on the register and who gives blood.

Links for more info

https://www.myeloma.org.uk/Page.aspx?pid=432

https://mdspatientsupport.org.uk/

https://lymphoma-action.org.uk//userfiles/file/pdf/treatments/Lymph Allogeneic transplant.pdf

https://bethematch.org/patient/undrstnd_disease_treat/lrn_about_disease/aplastic_anemia/index.html

I've been told that because I can't give blood (they physically have a really hard time getting it out of me) I can't go on the list

I do wonder if now I have lost weight they may be able to get blood from me easier, they haven't had too many issues getting it out of my right arm for blood tests now