Bone Marrow

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Bone marrow is a soft tissue found inside bones; it contains blood stem cells. These blood stem cells can develop into a variety of different blood cells: red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infection and platelets that make blood clot. Those new blood cells are then distributed throughout the body.

For many patients with blood cancers and other disorders, a blood stem cell donation from an unrelated donor is their only chance at a cure. Donation can be done by collecting peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) or bone marrow. Even though bone marrow collections only make up about 10% of total donations to patients, the need for this type of donation can be critical.

Transplant physicians may select bone marrow over PBSC because chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)—a complication that occurs when the donor’s blood stem cells attack healthy cells in the patient—is a lower risk and is less severe than in PBSC transplants. For pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic transplant, survival rates are higher for marrow than PBSC.

Bone marrow is collected during a surgical procedure while you’re under anesthesia. You’ll typically be at the hospital from early in the morning until late afternoon, although some donors are asked to stay overnight. (Don’t worry—NMDP covers all costs related to donation in either case.) Once you’ve donated, a courier will transport your bone marrow to the patient.

On the day of your donation, you’ll arrive early at a hospital that participates in marrow collections for NMDP. You’ll typically stay there through late afternoon, although some hospitals routinely plan for an overnight stay.

During bone marrow donation, you’ll be lying on your stomach. Doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow (where the body's blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of the back of your pelvic bone. You’ll be given anesthesia and feel no pain during the donation. After donation, your liquid marrow is transported to the patient's location for transplant.

About 96% of NMDP marrow donors receive general anesthesia, which means they’re completely unconscious during the donation. If you receive regional anesthesia (either spinal or epidural), medication will block sensation in the affected area, but you’ll remain aware of your surroundings. The average time under anesthesia is less than two hours. In either case, you won’t feel any pain during donation. Most donors, however, experience some side effects after.

The time it takes to recover varies and depends on the person and type of donation. Most donors return to work, school and other activities within 2 to 7 days after donation. NMDP considers donor safety a top priority and will follow up with you regularly until you’re able to resume normal activity. Find out more about what happens after you donate.

We take all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and well-being. However, no medical procedure is risk-free. Almost all bone marrow donors experience some side effects, but they resolve quickly, and very few donors have long-term or lingering health issues. A small percentage (just under 1%), however, experience a serious complication due to anesthesia or damage to bone, nerve or muscle in their hip region.

The risk of side effects of anesthesia during marrow donation is similar to that of other surgical procedures. Serious side effects of anesthesia are rare. Common side effects of general anesthesia include sore throat (caused by the breathing tube) or mild nausea and vomiting. Common side effects of regional anesthesia are a decrease in blood pressure and a headache after the procedure.

Join the registry!  Learn more at https://my.bethematch.org