# Come Join Me... In Donating Bone Marrow **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 15, 2004, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936 "2004-08-15T11:21:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/21 "2004-08-16T20:28:16Z")
I’m already on the USA donor list, have been for many years. Some folks at my church had a daughter dying of adult onset leukemia, and they were plugging getting tested. They knew it was too late for their daughter, but maybe not for somebody else. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/22 "2004-08-16T20:49:35Z")
Ten years and not even a nibble. But I’ve got my fingers crossed. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/23 "2004-08-16T20:57:20Z")
I have been on the national bone marrow registry since 1988, when I was typed as a potential donor for my father. Unfortunately he was too ill to ever receive the donation and died shortly thereafter. But, I am ready and willing to donate. As has been mentioned the best chances are for a relative and the larger pool of white people seems to be borne out in my case, as I’ve been available for 16 years and never been called. (And I checked; they still have my info and are all set.) I have also volunteered for my local blood center in conducting typing drives in minority populations, which is low as **caligynephobia** has explained. I’m not sure who paid for the tissue-typing in the drives I participated in (at churches on Sundays after services), but nobody had to pay. Even though I say there is a larger pool of white people, the overall registration in the general population is very low. Many, many more of these life-saving transplants could be performed if people would only voluntarily register! ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/24 "2004-08-16T22:16:02Z")
I don’t want to sound like a coward, but … well, I am… Does it hurt? What’s involved? I’d like to hear from those who’ve done it please. I can check out websites easily enough but they’re hardly likely to say ‘oh, and it’ll be excruciatingly painful and there’s a giant needle and…’. So, honestly - what’s it like? ---
**Author:** ![Apricot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Apricot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apricot)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/25 "2004-08-16T22:51:07Z")
> [@Khiadra](#): > > I don’t want to sound like a coward, but … well, I am… > > Does it hurt? What’s involved? > > I’d like to hear from those who’ve done it please. I can check out websites easily enough but they’re hardly likely to say ‘oh, and it’ll be excruciatingly painful and there’s a giant needle and…’. > > So, honestly - what’s it like? Getting on the registry is as easy as drawing a vial of blood. If you make a preliminary match, then there is more blood drawing. The actual bone marrow donation involves local anesthetia and a very long wide bore needle inserted into the femur. It’s icky, but it happens in the hospital and I bet they’d give you some valium if you liked. Anyone know about the possibility of being on the registery with a possible auto immune disease? I’ve got to think that’s a no-go. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/26 "2004-08-16T23:34:39Z")
> [@Apricot](#): > > The actual bone marrow donation involves local anesthetia and a very long wide bore needle inserted into the femur. It’s icky, but it happens in the hospital and I bet they’d give you some valium if you liked. > . Are you sure it’s local anesthesia and done in the femur? I believed it was general anesthesia and done in the spine. Am I totally off base, or are we talking about two different kinds of marrow donations? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/27 "2004-08-17T01:31:54Z")
> [@caligynephobia](#): > > Don’t take it personally; you’re probably not being illegally discriminated against. > > Here’s what I was told when I got a freebie registration a few years ago: There are a lot of potential white donors registered and the chances for a white recipient to match happen to be pretty good, while the cost for typing is still pretty expensive (IIRC, your best chances for match are from close relatives). The reason this would be of interest to an African-American employee’s group is that it is tough for African-Americans to find bone marrow matches on the current register. There are relatively few minority and multi-ethnic/racial (or whatever doesn’t offend you) potential donors registered, and there is a correspondingly low likelihood for a match. As a result, minority and multi-ethnic donors often have their typing paid for by the tissue bank or Red Cross or whoever has an interest in a diverse or thorough donor list. > > If you are a member of an ethnic minority or are mixed-ethnicity, you can probably get typed and registered for free or reduced cost. All it takes (for anyone) is to go into your tissue bank, fill out a questionaire and give a couple small vials of blood. I assumed it was something like this; most of the promotional material for the first registry drive talked about the need for minority donors, but never said that they were only taking “minority” donors (as they did in future drives). If the woman taking the applications had explained this to me instead of treating me like something that had crawled out from under a rock I would have understood. I’ve been donating platelets for years, so after reading **congodwarf** ’s post I decided to check the eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, my BMI is too high at the moment; I’d need to lose about thirty pounds to qualify. I’m trying to do that anyway, so maybe later. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/28 "2004-08-17T02:14:17Z")
Apparently I’m too old – at least in Austrailia. Does anyone know the age limits in the United States? I’m 61. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/29 "2004-08-17T02:19:08Z")
**Khiadra** , my doctor told me that the procedure is painful, but not intolerable. But think of what you will gain from it. Not only will you save the life of another human being, but for the rest of your life you will know that you have the courage to temporarily endure pain to save that life. _Knowing_ that you have courage is a gift that you make to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/30 "2004-08-17T08:17:22Z")
> [@lno](#): > > I’m in the national marrow donor registry, and last summer received a call that I was a preliminary match for a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I started a thread at the time to answer questions people may have about the process and to track how it went, but after some more thorough testing, the physician ultimately opted against using my marrow. I don’t know if they found a better match elsewhere or if something else happened, but darnit, I was looking forward to it. Snap. Same thing happened to me. I was found to be a preliminary match earlier in the year, went to give the blood sample for further testing, and a couple of weeks later heard that I wasn’t a match. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/31 "2004-08-17T10:27:04Z")
I got the blood samples taken today 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/32 "2004-08-17T10:30:41Z")
> [@Go You Big Red Fire Engine](#): > > I got the blood samples taken today 🙂 The blood sample to join the registry in the 1st place, or a sample to determine if you are a full match for somebody after a preliminary match success? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/33 "2004-08-17T10:49:01Z")
**Zoe** you’re 61? You don’t type a day over 27! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/34 "2004-08-17T10:56:43Z")
> [@One And Only Wanderers](#): > > The blood sample to join the registry in the 1st place, or a sample to determine if you are a full match for somebody after a preliminary match success? The 1st one to join. But I look forward to a full match 🙂 But I doubt it with my uncoloured european heritage ☹ ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/35 "2004-08-17T11:01:57Z")
> [@Go You Big Red Fire Engine](#): > > The 1st one to join. But I look forward to a full match 🙂 But I doubt it with my uncoloured european heritage ☹ heh i wouldn’t go around anticipating a call up at any time. I was on the register for 10 years before being flagged as a preliminary match. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/36 "2004-08-17T11:19:19Z")
> [@One And Only Wanderers](#): > > heh i wouldn’t go around anticipating a call up at any time. I was on the register for 10 years before being flagged as a preliminary match. By looking forward to, I meant, looking forward to doing it eventually, considering I’ll be on the register for 48 years, a second test _should_ happen eventually… ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936/37 "2004-08-18T09:49:49Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **Khiadra** , my doctor told me that the procedure is painful, but not intolerable. > > But think of what you will gain from it. Not only will you save the life of another human being, but for the rest of your life you will know that you have the courage to temporarily endure pain to save that life. _Knowing_ that you have courage is a gift that you make to yourself. Well, when you put it that way… Besides, I’m okay with ‘painful’. The word I was hoping to avoid was ‘excruciating’, and that seems to be thankfully missing. 😉 I just wish I didn’t have to travel to the city to do it! You’d think for something as important as bone marrow - or for blood donation, for that matter - that you could do it at any local hospital, wouldn’t you? For example, I’d donate blood happily every 3 months if I could do it locally. As it is, they get it from me maybe once every 2 years. Still, it looks like once you’re on the registry you don’t need to go in all the time, and they just ring you if they need you. That seems quite perfectly do-able. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-join-me-in-donating-bone-marrow/259936.md?page=1)