Category Archives: Health

Essential Information on Stem Cell Donation

In case you’d like to donate stem cells, you have allowed the physicians to draw stem cells from your bone marrow or blood for transplantation. Stem cells are of 2 types, namely, bone marrow and embryonic stem cells. While embryonic stem cells are actually used for research, the bone marrow stem cells are going to be formed within the bone marrow itself. This particular stem cell is employed in treating cancers.

Previously, the only method of collecting stem cells was to draw them from the bone directly by means of surgery. However, at present, stem cells are usually collected from the blood.

For what reason is it done

A lot of individuals are diagnosed with ailments like lymphoma or leukemia every year. The best treatment for these life-threatening conditions will be a stem cell transplant. These types of transplants require blood stem cells which are donated.

You might think of donating stem cells since somebody within your household requires a stem cell transplant and you have been found to be the perfect match for that individual by the doctors. Or, being a stem cell donor, you might like to help somebody who is not known to you and who needs a stem cell transplant.

How to prepare

In case you’d like to donate bone marrow stem cells, it will be a good idea to consult your physician or come in touch with the National Marrow Donor Program which is a nonprofit organization that maintains records of volunteers willing to donate.

In case you are planning to donate, the possible risks, as well as the process of donating, will be informed to you. Following this, a consent form has to be signed by you. It is up to you whether you like to sign or not. You will not be pressurized to do so.

In case you give your consent to become a donor, a test known as HLA (human leukocyte antigen) typing will be conducted on you. These are actually proteins which are present in the majority of the cells within our system. This particular test is going to help with matching recipients and donors. A close match will increase the possibility of making the transplant successful.

In case you get signed up with a local donor registry, you might or might not be matched with somebody requiring a stem cell transplant. Nevertheless, if you are found to be a match, you have to undergo some tests to ensure that you are not suffering from any infectious or genetic ailments that you might pass to the recipient. You will be questioned regarding your family history and health by your physician to ensure that there will be no risk with the donation for you as well.

You might be asked by a representative of the donor registry to make some financial contribution for covering the expenses of screening and also including you in the registry. It is possible for anybody between 18 and 44 years of age to get enrolled in the donor registry for free. On the other hand, individuals aged between 45 and 60 years will be required to pay a fee for joining.

 

Gift of Life Marrow Registry Also Offers Following Services :

Stem Cell Donation

Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant

Blood Cancer Bone Marrow Transplant

Contact US:

Gift of Life Marrow Registry

Address:  800 Yamato Rd suite 101  Boca Raton, FL
Phone: (800) 962-7769