If I end up becoming a donor, how do I donate?
The donation procedure itself takes place under a general anaesthesia and generally takes about 45 minutes to an hour. About 2-3% of your bone marrow is removed, a few tablespoons at a time, through a small incision in your hip. (not the spinal area) The removed bone marrow fluid will fully replace itself within 3-10 days after the procedure. Most donors experience mild back pain for a few days following the surgery and some fatigue. It's worth noting, though, that most donors say they would donate again if asked.
The alternative is where the Marrow can be donated in its purest form as Stem Cells in a procedure called a Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC). It is simple where no general anaesthesia is needed as for 4 hours blood is drawn from a vein in one arm, directed into a special filtered machine which keeps the Stem Cells but directly returns the blood to a vein in the other arm. You are wide awake and can return straight back home or to work.

I do want to help, but to be honest I am bit scared?
We totally understand how some people fear they will be called to donate marrow and that it will hurt. But please be assured that if a donor is called upon to donate bone marrow, the process is quick and fairly painless. Most donors report soreness in their hip as if they’d been doing strenuous gardening, or as if someone was standing on their hips or back as the most uncomfortable side effect.

What about the fact that I drink, smoke and have Sickle Cell Trait?
It does not matter if you have Sickle Cell Trait, drink or smoke, etc. Also your Blood group is not important as matching is not based upon having the same blood type as the sufferer. Because what is important is the unique Bone Marrow tissue type make up of people of African descent in order to find a matching donor for somebody of African or Mixed Parentage heritage. Due to our very low numbers, we are seeking more potential donors from the Black community to join the largest UK Bone Marrow register administered by the Anthony Nolan Trust.
We are also assisting many other sufferers awaiting bone marrow matches and others who are actually currently in remission receiving chemotherapy and, or radiotherapy treatment. Our hope is that they will complete the treatment and remain in remission. However, we know that this is not always the case and so the hope is that matches will be found and made available on the Anthony Nolan Trust or National Blood Service registers just in case the unthinkable happens.

Content Reproduced by Kind Permission of the ACLT