First Annual Pickens County Marrow Donor Drive

Help Save A Life....Make A Difference!

BACK

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (About Being a Donor)

~The following questions are answered on the following pages:~

(please click on hyperlinks) http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/abcs_of_donation.html

• What is a marrow or blood cell transplant?
  

• How are patients matched with donors?
  

• How does a person's race or ethnicity affect matching?
  

• How are blood-forming cells collected?
  

• Does donating hurt? What are the side effects?
  

• How does a person become a volunteer donor?
  

There are differences in

~Bone Marrow Donation and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation~

Each year, thousands of people develop diseases treatable with marrow or blood stem cell transplants. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has been a leader in unrelated bone marrow transplantation for more than 10 years. Now, the role of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation as an alternative to bone marrow donation for unrelated transplants is being evaluated under a research protocol accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

• How is bone marrow donated to the patient needing a transplant?
  

http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/marrow_donation.html

• How are peripheral blood stem cells donated to the patient?
  

http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/pbsc_donation.html

• How will I know whether I'll be asked to donate marrow or PBSC?
  

http://www.marrow.org/FAQS/general_faqs.html#c_donate

• Which method of donation is easier for the donor?
  

http://www.marrow.org/FAQS/general_faqs.html#c_easier

• Does donation hold any special risks?
  

http://www.marrow.org/FAQS/general_faqs.html#c_risks

• What is involved in the patient getting a transplant once a donor has been found?
  

http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/the_transplant.html

• Can someone who is identified as a potential donor match decline to donate?
  

http://www.marrow.org/FAQS/general_faqs.html#m_identify

More Questions & Answers:

• Will it cost me anything to be a donor?
  

After you have been tested, become a member of the NMDP and are identified as a potential match for a patient, all medical costs are covered by the patient or the patient's medical insurance, as are all travel expenses and other non-medical costs. The only "costs" to the donor might be time taken off from work.

The following questions are answered here:

http://www.marrow.org/FAQS/donor_faqs.html#specific

• Can I get tested for a specific patient (i.e., another friend or family member)?
  

• I've already been tested for a family member and would like my results added to the NMDP Registry.. How can I do this?
  

• How can I verify that I am on the Registry?
  

• Why does a person have to be 18 to be a donor? Can't my parent sign the consent for me?
  

• If I'm over 60, why can't I be a donor?
  

• How can I get involved in organizing a recruitment drive? How can I order NMDP materials (brochures, fliers, t-shirts, etc.)?
  

• I am already on the Registry, but have moved. How can I update my contact information? (click below)
  

https://www.marrow-donor.org/CONTACT/update_your_address.html

Am I Eligible to Donate?

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/marrow_eligibility_guidelines.html

If you have any further questions, please refer to the website:

www.marrow.org .