Bone Marrow

[A Nerd]

Today I got an email about being a bone marrow donor. I understand how they take a sample, but if I am a match what is the process involved in which to get the required amount? I don't like hospital visits and the whole thought of a complicated removal procedure frightens me. Does anyone know anything about this?

[classical_hero]

If you are a match then you are helping to save someone life. Basically bone marrow are stem cells and they are very useful in helping to repair the body from major diseases so if you can do it, I would say go for it.

[rajpoot]

They rip one of your smaller bones out, make a hole in it, then pump the marrow out. On a small payment, they replace that bone with a rod.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Seriously though, got this from wiki. It's done under anesthesia, and is quite harmless.

Bone marrow harvest.



In the case of a bone marrow transplant, the HSC are removed from a large bone of the donor, typically the pelvis, through a large needle that reaches the center of the bone. The technique is referred to as a bone marrow harvest and is performed under general anesthesia.

[xploring]

They take a blood sample from you, same as a normal blood donation. And if they find that you are a match (from the blood sample), they stick a giant needle into your bum to take a sample of the bone marrow, at least that's what I remember from signing up years ago. Call red cross, they should be able to give you all the information you need.

[Major Robert Dump]

It is extremely painful. Extremely. This is why there are not enough donors, because the world is lacking cajones.

[Samurai Waki]

MRD has it. It's not a pleasant experience from what I've heard... which is why they usually try to match up family members first, before they ask for donors.